Tanzania's president declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, just a week after the health minister denied there were any cases in the country.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in a press conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed one case of Marburg virus in the northwestern Kagera region.
“We are confident that we will overcome this challenge again,” Samia said, referring to the previous outbreak in Tanzania two years ago.
On January 14, the World Health Organization reported a suspected Marburg virus outbreak in the country, recording nine suspected cases and eight deaths over five days in Kagera.
But Tanzanian Health Minister Jenista Mahagama said in a statement that after analyzing the samples, all suspected cases were found to be negative for the Marburg virus.
In the press conference held on Monday jointly with the World Health Organization, President Samia said that her government has intensified its efforts and a rapid response team has been sent to follow up on all suspected cases.
Marburg virus is highly contagious, and symptoms include fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in some cases, death from severe blood loss.
On average, the virus kills half of the people it infects, according to the World Health Organization.
Tanzania says that in addition to the confirmed case, authorities have taken samples from 24 other people suspected of being infected with the Marburg virus. All of these tests were negative.
Meanwhile, the cause of the eight deaths reported by the World Health Organization has not yet been revealed.
Tanzania witnessed its first outbreak of Marburg virus in March 2023 in Bukoba District. It led to the death of six people and lasted for nearly two months.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global risk from the current outbreak in Tanzania is “low.”
He added: “Although there is no approved treatment or vaccines, it is possible to stop the outbreak quickly.” “The World Health Organization advises against imposing restrictions. Now is the time for cooperation.”
More than 300 contacts have been identified for further testing, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the African Union's public health agency, said on Thursday. Health workers make up 56 of these contacts, while 16 people on the list are known to have been in direct contact with people suspected of being infected with Marburg.
The International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 require countries to report public health events and emergencies that can cross borders. Kagera is a transit hub where many people travel to and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.
In December, neighboring Rwanda declared the end of the outbreak in the country, which had infected 66 people and killed 15 others.
Marburg virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and then through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
There are no specific treatments or vaccine for the virus, although trials are ongoing.
