In a swift response to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent alert, Tanzania has firmly denied reports of a suspected Marburg virus outbreak in the north-western Kagera region.
The WHO had raised concerns over nine suspected cases, including eight fatalities, within the past five days. However, Tanzania’s Health Minister, Jenista Mhagama, assured the public and international community that all tested samples returned negative results for the Ebola-like virus.
The WHO’s alert came amidst heightened vigilance in neighboring countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Kagera region, a significant transit hub, has been under close scrutiny due to its extensive cross-border movements. 
Despite the WHO’s warning of potential additional cases as surveillance improves, Tanzania’s health authorities have maintained that their disease surveillance and monitoring systems are robust and effective.
Read Also; https://africansights.com/tanzania-who-reports-8-deaths-in-possible-marburg-virus-outbreak/
Minister Mhagama emphasized Tanzania’s commitment to transparency and timely updates on public health developments.
She also highlighted the deployment of expert teams to Kagera to investigate and collect samples, ensuring that no new outbreak had been detected. The WHO, while acknowledging Tanzania’s efforts, cautioned that the regional risk remained high due to the area’s connectivity
The Marburg virus, which has a fatality rate of approximately 50%, is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and spreads through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and severe blood loss in some cases. Although there are no specific treatments or approved vaccines for Marburg, ongoing research continues to explore potential solutions.
As Tanzania continues to monitor the situation closely, the international community watches with bated breath. The WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has urged for continued vigilance and collaboration among neighboring countries to prevent any potential spread. While the global risk remains low, the regional implications necessitate sustained efforts to ensure public health safety.
Leave a Reply