A suspected outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Tanzania’s Kagera region has left eight people dead, with nine infections reported. The virus, which causes severe hemorrhagic fever, is from the same family as Ebola and has a fatality rate of up to 88%.
Health officials received reports of cases on January 10, with patients exhibiting symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting blood, and external bleeding. Samples from two individuals are undergoing testing at Tanzania’s national laboratory to confirm the outbreak.
Efforts are underway to trace contacts, including healthcare workers who treated the infected individuals.
The suspected outbreak follows a recent Marburg epidemic in neighboring Rwanda, where 66 cases and 15 deaths were reported before it ended on December 20. The proximity of Rwanda’s outbreak to Kagera highlights the region’s vulnerability to the virus, which spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials.
A similar outbreak in Kagera in March 2023 resulted in six fatalities and lasted nearly two months. Health authorities are on high alert to prevent further spread.