Tanzania confirms Marburg case, heightening global health concerns

President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on Monday that a sample from Tanzania’s remote Kagera region tested positive for Marburg disease, validating World Health Organization (WHO) warnings from mid-January. While Tanzanian authorities initially denied the presence of Marburg after eight people in Kagera died from what WHO suspected to be the disease, subsequent investigations have now identified a single case among 26 tested samples.

Marburg, a highly contagious virus akin to Ebola, can be fatal in up to 88 percent of cases if left untreated. It spreads through direct exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals or via contaminated surfaces, such as used bedding or towels. Typical symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal distress, potentially culminating in severe blood loss. No approved vaccine or targeted treatment exists.

This marks the second outbreak reported in Kagera since 2023 and comes just a month after neighboring Rwanda declared its own outbreak over. Officials there documented 15 deaths and 66 total cases following the epidemic’s initial detection on September 27, with healthcare workers disproportionately affected while caring for early patients.

President Hassan’s comments were made in Dodoma during a visit by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Tanzania’s health authorities are now on heightened alert, strengthening surveillance and urging the public to follow preventative measures. They have also vowed to collaborate with international partners to curb further infections and shield neighboring areas from potential spread.