The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning over a possible outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in north-western Tanzania, where at least eight people have died.
WHO said over the last five days, nine suspected cases of Marburg virus were identified in the Kagera region.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Tuesday via X stated, “We expect more cases in the coming days as disease surveillance improves.
“Marburg virus disease is an infectious, severe, and often fatal disease caused by a filovirus.”
Among affected patients are the healthcare workers who are closely monitored.
Rapid response teams have been deployed in north-western Tanzania to trace suspected Marburg virus cases and contain the outbreak, as concerns grow over its potential spread.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the risk of regional transmission remains “high” due to Kagera’s role as a key transit hub with frequent cross-border movement to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda.
Despite the outbreak, WHO chief Dr. Tedros clarified that no travel or trade restrictions with Tanzania are currently recommended.
On a global scale, the risk remains “low,” with no evidence of international spread.
This comes after Rwanda, Tanzania’s neighbour, declared its own Marburg outbreak over in December 2024, following 66 infections and 15 deaths.
According to WHO data, the Marburg virus has an average fatality rate of 50%. It originates from fruit bats and spreads to humans through direct contact, with further transmission occurring via bodily fluids of infected individuals.
