Tanzania reports 8 deaths in possible Marburg virus outbreak

LEADERSHIP 

A suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Tanzania’s Kagera region has reportedly infected nine people and claimed eight lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This marks a concerning development just weeks after neighbouring Rwanda declared its own Marburg outbreak officially over.

MVD, formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a severe illness with an average fatality rate of 50%, though rates have ranged from 24% to 88% in previous outbreaks. The disease is closely related to Ebola and is transmitted to humans through Rousettus aegyptiacus fruit bats, the natural host of the virus.

Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials.

The outbreak in Tanzania, confirmed on January 10, has been reported in the Kagera region, which borders Rwanda. Patients have presented with symptoms such as high fever, headache, muscle weakness, back pain, vomiting blood, and severe external bleeding. Samples from two patients are being tested at the national laboratory, while authorities are tracing contacts, including healthcare workers, to prevent further spread.