An outbreak of suspected Marburg disease has claimed the lives of eight individuals in a remote area of northern Tanzania, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The organization has reported a total of 9 cases, with 8 resulting in fatalities. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that further cases are expected as disease surveillance efforts intensify.
Marburg disease, similar to Ebola, is believed to originate from fruit bats and can be transmitted among humans through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated surfaces. The disease can be fatal in up to 88% of cases if left untreated. Symptoms include fever, muscle pains, diarrhea, vomiting, and in severe instances, death due to significant blood loss. Currently, there is no authorized vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg.
WHO has assessed the risk of the suspected outbreak in Tanzania as high at national and regional levels but low on a global scale. Tanzanian health authorities have not yet provided a response to the situation.
Previously, an outbreak of Marburg in Rwanda, which was reported in September and declared over in December, resulted in 15 deaths and 66 cases. The majority of those affected were healthcare workers who had direct contact with initial patients. In 2023, an outbreak of Marburg in Kagera, a region bordering Rwanda, led to the deaths of at least five individuals.
