Tanzania’s President Samia Suhulu Hassan confirms Marburg virus outbreak

BBC.com

Tanzania’s president has announced an outbreak of Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, just a week after her health minister denied that there were any cases in the country.
But Tanzania’s Health Minister Jenista Mhagama said in a statement that after samples had been analysed, all suspected cases were found negative for Marburg.
What is the Marburg virus and how dangerous is it?
Tanzania experienced its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023 in the Bukoba district.
The Marburg virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and then through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals.

NEGATIVE

A week after Tanzania’s health minister denied that any cases of the Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, were occurring in the country, the president of Tanzania declared an outbreak.

At a news conference on Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced that one case of Marburg had been confirmed by health authorities in the northwest Kagera region.

“We are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again,” Samia stated, alluding to an outbreak that occurred in Tanzania two years prior.

With nine suspected cases and eight fatalities over five days in Kagera, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a suspected Marburg outbreak in the nation on January 14.

However, in a statement, Tanzania’s Health Minister Jenista Mhagama stated that all suspected cases tested negative for Marburg after samples were examined.

What is the Marburg virus, and what is its level of danger?

During the joint press briefing with the WHO on Monday, President Samia stated that her government had increased its efforts and that a rapid response team had been sent to investigate all suspected cases.

With symptoms like fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in rare instances, death from severe blood loss, Marburg is a highly contagious disease.

According to the WHO, half of those infected by the virus die on average.

Authorities in Tanzania claim that in addition to the one confirmed case, they collected samples from 24 additional individuals who may have had Marburg. All of these had negative test results.

The WHO reported eight deaths, but the cause has not yet been identified.

In March 2023, the Bukoba district in Tanzania saw its first Marburg outbreak. It lasted for almost two months and claimed six lives.

According to WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, there is a “low” risk of the current outbreak in Tanzania spreading globally.

He asserted that outbreaks could be promptly contained despite the lack of an approved treatment or vaccine. The WHO advises against limitations. Collaboration is needed now. “.”.

The public health organization of the African Union, Africa CDC, announced on Thursday that over 300 contacts had been identified for additional testing. Of these contacts, 56 are health professionals, and 16 on the list are known to have had direct contact with people who may have had Marburg.

Countries are required by the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005 to report cross-border public health emergencies and events. Many people travel to and from Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo via Kagera, which serves as a transit hub.

An outbreak in neighboring Rwanda that had killed 15 people and infected 66 was declared to be over in December.

The Marburg virus is spread to humans by fruit bats and then by coming into contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.

Trials are underway, but there are currently no specific treatments or vaccines for the virus.

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