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An outbreak of the Marburg virus in Tanzania has claimed the lives of nine individuals, according to the latest report from Africa’s health agency, marking an increase from the eight suspected fatalities previously reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week.
Tanzania confirmed its second-ever Marburg outbreak on Monday, following a deadly incident in 2023 that saw six fatalities. The country has not yet provided any updated figures on the most recent deaths.
The African Union’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) provided an update in its weekly briefing, revealing that 10 cases have been reported, with nine individuals confirmed dead. Africa CDC’s Chief of Staff, Ngashi Ngongo, noted the “very high case fatality” associated with the virus, underscoring the severity of the situation.
“We are doing everything we can with WHO and all the partners,” Ngongo said during an online briefing. He further confirmed that response teams, including members who had previously worked on the Marburg outbreak in neighboring Rwanda, were already on the ground in Tanzania.
In total, around 281 contacts of the confirmed cases have been identified and are being monitored. To date, 31 tests have been conducted, with two returning positive results and the remaining 29 showing negative outcomes.
Ngongo reiterated the accuracy of these figures, stating that “we trust the results,” despite some discrepancies in the reported numbers. He also mentioned that Tanzania’s government had submitted a $10.8 million response plan, awaiting finalization and support from Africa CDC.
This new outbreak follows just a month after the WHO declared the end of a three-month Marburg outbreak in Rwanda, which resulted in 15 deaths. The Marburg virus, which causes a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever, is transmitted by fruit bats and belongs to the same viral family as Ebola. With a fatality rate that can soar to nearly 90%, the virus is often accompanied by severe symptoms, including bleeding and organ failure.
As authorities continue to track the virus and prevent further spread, the situation remains critical, with both local and international health agencies intensifying their efforts to contain the outbreak.
