In a troubling development for global health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over a suspected outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Tanzania’s Kagera region. This announcement came after reliable reports surfaced on January 10, 2025, indicating that six individuals had been affected, with five succumbing to the virus. By the following day, the number of suspected cases had risen to nine, with eight fatalities reported, casting a shadow of urgency over the response efforts.
The Marburg virus, known for its severe hemorrhagic fever akin to Ebola, presents symptoms including headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhea, vomiting blood, and in later stages, external bleeding. The suspected outbreak in Kagera, a region well-connected via transportation networks, including an airport linking to Dar es Salaam, underscores the potential for the virus to spread beyond national borders.
According to WHO, the risk assessment at the national level is considered high due to the high case fatality rate, healthcare workers being among the affected, and the unknown source of the outbreak. The geographical spread across two districts has further heightened concerns. Regionally, the risk is also deemed high, particularly because Kagera shares borders with Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, and cross-border movements could facilitate the virus’s spread.
WHO has informed its member states and parties under the International Health Regulations using its secure web-based platform, the Event Information Site (EIS), to issue rapid alerts concerning the outbreak. The organization has emphasized the need for enhanced surveillance, case management, and readiness at points of entry and border areas to prevent international spread. However, based on the current risk assessment, WHO advises against any travel or trade restrictions with Tanzania.
National rapid response teams have been deployed to investigate the outbreak, intensify surveillance, and conduct contact tracing. Laboratory samples from the suspected cases have been dispatched to Tanzania’s National Public Health Laboratory for confirmation, with a mobile lab already established in the Kagera region to aid in quicker testing and response.
The Marburg virus, which primarily spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated surfaces, poses a significant challenge to healthcare workers and those involved in patient care. WHO has advocated for strict infection prevention and control measures to be implemented to curb transmission, especially in healthcare settings.
This suspected outbreak follows Tanzania’s first confirmed Marburg case in March 2023, which was successfully contained after affecting nine people, including six deaths. That experience might aid in the current response, but the high mortality rate and the virus’s potential for rapid spread in this new scenario keep health authorities on high alert.
As the situation develops, WHO, alongside Tanzanian health authorities, will continue to monitor, respond, and update on the progress of managing this outbreak. The international community watches closely, hoping for swift containment to prevent a broader health crisis.
