An outbreak of the Marburg virus that broke out in the Kagera region of northwestern Tanzania has been officially confirmed by the country's president, Samia Suluhu Hassan.

During a press conference held in the capital, Dodoma, attended by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, it was revealed that a positive case had been identified after laboratory testing. The region, known as a major transit point in East Africa, is facing this highly deadly virus for the second time since 2023.

The announcement comes after a period of uncertainty and denials from the country's government. Last week, Tanzania's Ministry of Health denied the existence of any cases, despite the WHO reporting eight suspected deaths. Now, with confirmation, the government assures it is intensifying control efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.

The Marburg virus, belonging to the same family as Ebola, is known for causing hemorrhagic fever and has a mortality rate of up to 89%. Although there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment, the WHO emphasizes that outbreaks can be controlled quickly with effective surveillance, isolation, and treatment measures.

The patient is being monitored, while 24 other samples tested negative. WHO President Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that the current situation poses a low risk globally, but requires increased attention from local and international authorities.

“Now is the time for collaboration.”

"The WHO has already made available $3 million from its emergency fund to support the Tanzanian government's efforts," he said.

Marburg virus spreads primarily through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people, as well as through contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include high fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

“We have demonstrated our ability to contain similar outbreaks in the past and we are determined to do the same this time.”

The president declared, appealing for calm and cooperation from the population, while presenting the measures implemented, highlighting the installation of mobile laboratories for rapid diagnosis, the establishment of specialized treatment centers, and the intensification of community surveillance.

Additionally, WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) are supporting contact tracing, including 56 health workers and 16 individuals who had direct contact with suspected cases.

The outbreak in Kagera highlights the importance of regional cooperation, given that the area is a strategic transit point between several countries. In recent months, Rwanda, a country that shares a border with Tanzania, declared it had already controlled a Marburg outbreak that resulted in 66 cases and 15 deaths.

Marburg virus was first detected in 1967, in outbreaks in Germany and Serbia, linked to monkeys imported from Africa. Since then, outbreaks have occurred primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, where poor conditions, such as fragile health systems and proximity to the virus's natural habitats, increase the risk of transmission.

Transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or with corpses during traditional funeral ceremonies. Healthcare workers are also at significant risk if inadequate protection is used, which intensifies the severity of outbreaks.

Symptoms begin with high fever, headache, and muscle weakness, but can progress to severe bleeding and multiple organ failure. The mortality rate ranges from 24% to 89%, depending on the quality of medical care provided.

Currently, there are no vaccines or specific treatments for Marburg virus. Treatment consists of supportive care, such as fluid replacement, stabilization of vital signs, and management of complications. This limitation highlights the urgent need to invest in research to develop effective vaccines and specific therapies.

Despite advances in epidemiological surveillance, the presence of natural reservoirs of the virus in fruit bats and human contact with wild habitats continue to pose significant challenges for the control and prevention of Marburg virus.

With the support of the WHO and other international partners, Tanzania is in a strong position to prevent the situation from worsening. However, it is crucial that the international community continues to support the country's efforts while investing in research and development of effective vaccines and treatments for the Marburg virus.