Suspected Marburg Virus Outbreak Claims Eight Live...

Suspected Marburg Virus Outbreak Claims Eight Lives in Tanzania

Zim Now Writer

A suspected outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Tanzania's Kagera region has resulted in eight deaths out of nine reported cases, the World Health Organization announced. The outbreak comes weeks after Rwanda declared its Marburg epidemic over in December.

The Marburg virus, a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever, has a fatality rate of up to 88%. It is closely related to the Ebola virus and is transmitted to humans by fruit bats, which are native to East Africa.

The reported cases exhibited severe symptoms, including headaches, high fever, back pain, diarrhea, vomiting blood, muscle weakness, and external bleeding. Samples from two patients are being analyzed at Tanzania's national laboratory to confirm the outbreak.

WHO confirmed that contact tracing is underway, with healthcare workers among those being monitored to prevent further spread.

This outbreak in Kagera mirrors a similar one in March 2023, which claimed six lives and lasted nearly two months. Tanzania’s latest cases follow a recent Marburg epidemic in neighboring Rwanda, which infected 66 people and caused 15 deaths before being declared over on December 20.

Marburg virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or via contaminated materials such as bedding or clothing. Swift identification and containment are critical to managing its spread.

Health authorities are intensifying surveillance efforts to limit the outbreak's impact while awaiting confirmation of the suspected cases.