Tanzania Confirms Second Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease

Angola’s president, Samia Suluhu Hassan has stated today that a sample from an isolated area of the country tested positive for Marburg disease. Hassan stated that “Laboratory tests conducted at Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative with other illnesses”.

This verified Marburg virus case is the second breakout of the disease in our country. “As you may recall, the first outbreak occurred in March 2023 in the same Kagera region,” she said. Twenty-five other samples were negative. The announcement comes only days after the country’s health minister declared there were no cases of the disease in the country. 

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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation stated that he does not see any need to be concerned at this time. “Considering the low global risk and the strong capabilities of the Tanzanian government, WHO advises against restrictions on trade and travel to the country and as Her Excellency said, Tanzania is open for business.”

Marburg virus, a highly contagious disease can be deadly in the majority of cases if left untreated. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting and in severe cases death due to massive blood loss.