WHO and Tanzanian Ministry of Health official reports

WHO Reports Suspected Marburg Outbreak in Tanzania's Kagera Region: 9 Cases, 8 Deaths, High National and Regional Risk

Jan 15, 2025, 03:01 AM

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a suspected outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the Kagera region of Tanzania, with nine cases and eight deaths recorded as of January 11, 2025. The outbreak, which has a case fatality ratio of 89%, was first reported to WHO on January 10, 2025. The affected individuals in the districts of Biharamulo and Muleba exhibited symptoms including headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhea, vomiting blood, muscle weakness, and external bleeding. Healthcare workers are among the suspected cases, indicating a risk of nosocomial transmission. The source of the outbreak remains unknown, and the risk is assessed as high at the national level due to the high fatality rate and geographic spread. Regionally, the risk is also considered high due to Kagera's role as a transit hub with significant cross-border movement to neighboring countries like Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Globally, the risk is assessed as low, with no confirmed international spread at this stage. WHO has deployed national rapid response teams to support outbreak investigation and response, intensified surveillance and contact tracing, and established treatment units in the region. Samples from two patients are pending confirmation at the National Public Health Laboratory.