Marburg Virus Returns To Tanzania: President Hassan Confirms Virus Outbreak After Initial Denial

Since the beginning of the year, Tanzania has been facing a health security threat in light of the recent outbreak of the Marburg virus in its Kagera region, which borders Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. This year’s virus emergence comes nearly two years after breaking out in Tanzania in early 2023, which resulted in the deaths of six people. It also follows the recent Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda last December, which infected 66 and ended deadly for 15 people.

After initially denying the outbreak of the Marburg virus, Tanzania’s president Samia Suluhu Hassan has officially admitted the virus’ spread, announcing the government’s intention to fight the virus by assuring that “We have demonstrated our ability to contain similar outbreaks and we are confident that we will overcome this challenge once again.”

Hassan’s admission of the virus’ surge comes just in time as the World Health Organization (WHO) has started to publicly investigate the virus’ occurrence in Tanzania, officially confirming that there have been over a dozen cases and eight virus-related deaths recorded by its rapid response team. Interestingly, the cases and deaths recorded by the WHO differ from those confirmed by Tanzania’s President Hassan, who only announced one positive Marburg virus case. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need for more stringent and coordinated case management by both actors, to provide reliable and accurate information to the Tanzanian as well as the international community.

However, both the WHO and the Tanzanian government agree that the Marburg virus, which comes from the same virus family as Ebola, is quite fatal, killing around half of the people that it infects, while its lethality is further amplified by the lack of vaccines or approved treatment for the Marburg disease. However, health experts emphasize that the virus can be effectively contained if prompt action is taken following the detection of the initial cases, which consequently begs for a fast and efficient Marburg virus response strategy.

The Marburg virus originates from fruit bats and ultimately gets transmitted through human fluids such as blood, saliva, vomit, and semen of infected individuals. According to the WHO and its rapid response team that is engaged in on-ground operations such as contact tracking, virus management, and advocacy about hygiene procedures, the risk of transmission is currently particularly high in the Kagera region as it is a vital transit hub, making surges of the virus through cross-border movement a pressing threat. Therefore, the WHO urgently advises frequent communication between Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania to help contain the threat.

To support Tanzania in its virus management efforts, the WHO has dedicated 3 million dollars from its emergency fund on top of 50,000 already given for health-related research purposes. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at the WHO, does not consider a travel ban necessary considering the “low global risk and the strong capabilities of the Tanzanian government,” as stated in his recent press release. As of now, the WHO seems quite confident in Tanzania’s swift and meaningful response, which is expected to effectively contain the outbreak and prevent a significant number of fatalities.

Tanzania also receives regional support from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which immediately mobilized forces after the outbreak was officially confirmed and employed a rapid response team to analyze the spread of the virus on site while also evaluating the sociopolitical health threat posed by the disease. The Director-General of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, stated that “Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment” and further highlighted his optimism in effectively combating the virus, asserting that “Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control.”

Thus, a united front between local, regional, national, and international actors is essential to keep the risk of causing a health crisis low, effectively treating the patients who fell sick, and further strengthening the immediate response mechanisms throughout the country and region. The collaboration and accountability of all involved actors are vital in the coming weeks, and thus far, efforts appear to be progressing successfully. Hopefully, this observed trend will persist and the Marburg virus outbreak will be contained as fast as in 2023.

Related