Tanzania as we speak confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus illness within the northwestern Kagera area after one case examined constructive for the virus following investigations and laboratory evaluation of suspected circumstances of the illness.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement throughout a press briefing alongside World Well being Group (WHO) Director-Common, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, within the nation’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory checks carried out at Kabaile Cell Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam recognized one affected person as being contaminated with the Marburg virus. Thankfully, the remaining suspected sufferers examined adverse,” the president stated. “We have now demonstrated previously our skill to comprise an identical outbreak and are decided to do the identical this time round.”
A complete of 25 suspected circumstances have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have examined adverse and are at the moment below shut follow-up, the president stated. The circumstances have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have now resolved to reassure most of the people in Tanzania and the worldwide neighborhood as a complete of our collective willpower to deal with the worldwide well being challenges, together with the Marburg virus illness,” stated H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian well being authorities to boost key outbreak management measures together with illness surveillance, testing, therapy, an infection prevention and management, case administration, in addition to rising public consciousness amongst communities to forestall additional unfold of the virus.
“WHO, working with its companions, is dedicated to supporting the federal government of Tanzania to deliver the outbreak below management as quickly as doable, and to construct a more healthy, safer, fairer future for all of the individuals of Tanzania,” stated Dr Tedros. “Now could be a time for collaboration, and dedication, to defending the well being of all individuals in Tanzania, and the area, from the dangers posed by this illness.”
Marburg virus illness is extremely virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the identical household because the virus that causes Ebola virus illness. Sickness brought on by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Sufferers current with excessive fever, extreme headache and extreme malaise. They could develop extreme haemorrhagic signs inside seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the federal government are essential in addressing the specter of this illness on the native and nationwide ranges in addition to stopping potential cross-border unfold,” stated Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our precedence is to help the federal government to quickly scale up measures to successfully reply to this outbreak and safeguard the well being of the inhabitants,”
Tanzania beforehand reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the nation’s first – in Kagera area, during which a complete of 9 circumstances (eight confirmed and one possible) and 6 deaths have been reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
Within the African area, earlier outbreaks and sporadic circumstances have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to individuals from fruit bats and spreads amongst people via direct contact with the bodily fluids of contaminated individuals, surfaces and supplies. Though a number of promising candidate medical countermeasures are at the moment present process scientific trials, there isn’t a licensed therapy or vaccine for efficient administration or prevention of Marburg virus illness. Nonetheless, early entry to therapy and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and therapy of particular signs, enhance survival.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Well being Group – United Republic of Tanzania.
