Tanzania Declares No Confirmed Marburg Cases Amid ...

Tanzania Declares No Confirmed Marburg Cases Amid WHO Concerns Over Suspected Deaths

Zim Now Writer

Tanzania’s government announced that no individuals in the country have tested positive for the Marburg virus, despite reports from the World Health Organization linking at least eight deaths in the northwest to the disease.

“As of January 15, 2025, laboratory results for all suspected individuals were negative for Marburg virus,” Health Minister Jenista Mhagama stated in a press release late Wednesday.

On January 10, the WHO reported receiving credible information about suspected Marburg virus cases in Kagera, a region in northwest Tanzania. Victims reportedly exhibited classic Marburg symptoms, including headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhoea, vomiting blood, muscle weakness, and external bleeding.

Marburg, a severe viral haemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate of up to 88%, is caused by a virus in the same family as Ebola. It is primarily transmitted to humans from fruit bats endemic to parts of East Africa.

After being alerted to the suspected cases, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health took immediate action. Measures included deploying expert teams to the affected area, conducting event investigations, collecting samples, and performing laboratory testing.

To strengthen its disease preparedness, Mhagama stated that Tanzania has enhanced its disease surveillance systems in response to the reports.

At a virtual press conference on Thursday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus encouraged Tanzania to send collected samples to international reference laboratories for further analysis. He also advised the country to gather additional samples following standard procedures.

The WHO has pledged its support to Tanzania and stands ready to provide further assistance if necessary.

Tanzania previously encountered its first Marburg outbreak in 2023, recording nine cases, including six deaths, in Kagera. The recurrence of suspected cases in the same region raises concerns about localized vulnerabilities.

However, the government’s current handling of the situation comes under scrutiny given past criticisms during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Tanzania was accused of withholding infection data and ignoring preventive measures.