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Tanzania has dismissed a World Health Organization (WHO) report regarding a suspected new outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg virus in the country’s north-west. The report from the global health body on Tuesday indicated the discovery of nine suspected cases, including eight deaths, over the last five days in the Kagera region. However, Tanzania’s Health Minister Jenista Mhagama quickly rejected these claims, stating that laboratory tests on the suspected cases came back negative for the Marburg virus.
WHO’s Initial Report on the Suspected Outbreak
According to the WHO, the suspected cases were reported in the Kagera region, an area with a high level of cross-border movement between neighboring countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The WHO raised concerns about the risk of further cases, particularly with the region’s status as a transit hub for international movement.
WHO chief, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that “further cases in the coming days” could be expected as disease surveillance systems in the area improved. The WHO stated that patients, including healthcare workers, had been identified and were being closely monitored. Despite these findings, the WHO stressed that the global risk posed by the outbreak remained low and that there were no immediate concerns about the disease spreading internationally.
Tanzania’s Response and Rejection of the WHO’s Findings
In response to the WHO’s findings, Health Minister Mhagama assured both Tanzanians and international bodies that after thorough analysis, all samples tested negative for the Marburg virus. Mhagama confirmed that the country had ramped up its surveillance systems and disease monitoring to ensure quick detection and containment of any potential outbreaks. She reassured the international community, including the WHO, that Tanzania would continue to provide updates on any developments.
“We would like to assure the international organisations, including WHO, that we shall always keep them up to date with ongoing developments,” said Mhagama.
Marburg Virus Background
The Marburg virus, an infectious disease similar to Ebola, has been a cause for concern globally due to its high mortality rate. Symptoms of the disease include fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, death due to extreme blood loss. Marburg virus is transmitted from fruit bats to humans, and then spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. Currently, there are no specific treatments or vaccines for the virus, although research and trials are ongoing.
Tanzania experienced its first outbreak of Marburg in March 2023, in the Bukoba district, where six people lost their lives. The outbreak lasted nearly two months and was contained with the help of health teams and enhanced surveillance.
Ongoing Surveillance and International Concerns
While Tanzania has dismissed the latest suspected outbreak, the WHO has remained vigilant. It deployed a team of experts to the Kagera region to conduct further investigations and collect more specimens. The WHO also highlighted the risk of the virus spreading in the region due to its proximity to other countries affected by similar outbreaks. Rwanda, a neighboring country, had declared its Marburg outbreak over in December 2023, following the infection of 66 people and the death of 15.
Dr. Tedros also emphasized that while there was no immediate need for travel or trade restrictions, the situation required close monitoring as surveillance efforts intensified in the region. As of now, there are no significant concerns about the virus spreading globally.
