Tanzania’s Suspected Marburg Virus Outbreak Raises Concerns

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that a possible Marburg virus epidemic in northwest Tanzania has infected nine persons and killed eight. This frightening trend comes just weeks after neighbouring Rwanda declared its own outbreak of the deadly virus to be over.

The Marburg virus, which causes extremely contagious hemorrhagic fever with a death rate of up to 88%, is closely linked to Ebola. Both viruses are indigenous to East Africa and are thought to spread to humans via fruit bats. The newest Tanzanian epidemic was recorded in the Kagera district, which shares a border with Rwanda. The WHO verified that it received reports of suspected cases on January 10. Patients’ symptoms include headaches, high fevers, muscle weakness, back discomfort, and vomiting blood.

The outbreak in Rwanda, which concluded on December 20, sickened 66 individuals and killed 15. The proximity to Tanzania’s Kagera region raises concerns about cross-border transmission. Marburg virus spreads through direct contact with infected patients’ bodily fluids or contaminated objects such as bedding and clothing, emphasising the importance of immediate containment measures.

Tanzania has dealt with the Marburg virus on multiple occasions. In March 2023, the same Kagera region saw a nearly two-month outbreak that killed six people. The resurgence of cases in the region highlights the virus’s ongoing threat.

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