Announcement

**sharon sanders** · March 17, 2023, 10:11 AM

Information to the Public about the rumors of the presence of an unknown Disease in Kagera Region

Wizara ya Afya Tanzania
@wizara_afyatz

**Mary Wilson** · March 17, 2023, 10:58 AM

Tanzania probes yet-to-be-known disease after five die in Kagera

FRIDAY MARCH 17 2023

Tanzania’s Chief Medical Officer Tumaini Nagu who on March 17, 2023 announced that doctors were investigating a yet-to-be-known disease that broke out in Kagera region and which had already killed five people. PHOTO | BEATRICE MATERU | NMG

... Symptoms of the illness which broke out in two villages in Bukoba, Kagera include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding through various body openings.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday evening, Tanzania’s Chief Medical Officer Tumaini Nagu said the disease originated from Kagera region and that a team of doctors had already been dispatched to further investigate it.

"The two other patients are in hospital undergoing treatment. The trend of the disease indicates the possibility of it being infectious," Prof Nagu said.

https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea...kagera-4162734

**Pathfinder** · March 20, 2023, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by sharon sanders View Post

Information to the Public about the rumors of the presence of an unknown Disease in Kagera Region

Wizara ya Afya Tanzania
@wizara_afyatz

Translation Google

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC REGARDING RUMORS OF THE PRESENCE OF DISEASE
UNKNOWN KAGERA REGION

DODOMA, March 16, 2023.

Dear Citizens, The Ministry has received information about the presence of a disease that has not yet been identified
in Kagera region in Bukoba Vijijini district, Maruku and Kanyangereko ward, villages of
Bulinda and Butayaibega. According to this information, a total of 7 people are believed to have received it
symptoms of fever, vomiting, bleeding in various parts of the body and kidney failure
to work. In addition, 5 of them have died and 2 others are in hospital
they continue treatment. The course of this disease indicates the possibility that it is a disease
contagious.

Dear citizens, the Government continues to closely monitor the trend of this disease
and take control measures so that it does not spread. These steps include;
a) Samples from patients and deceased have been taken to determine the source and
confirm the type of the disease.
b) Monitoring of people with symptoms of the disease in the community and delivery centers
health services as well as those who interacted with those patients to provide them with appropriate care
medical.
c) Professional teams to deal with the explosion (Rapid Response Team) at the Regional level and
Councils have been sent to the affected areas and are continuing with the investigation
control measures.
d) Medicines, equipment and necessary medical equipment are available in the centers providing health services in the region
Kagera and the patients are continuing treatment.
e) Health education continues to be provided to the community in Kagera region to take
caution.

Dear Citizens, While the Government is monitoring the progress of the disease and taking measures to
control, please continue to be calm and take the following steps;
a) Anyone with symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding and exhaustion
power is advised to be a health care center in advance for
diagnosis and treatment.
b) Giving information in advance at the nearest service center or calling
number 199 free of charge if you see or meet someone with such symptoms.
c) Avoiding touching the patient or body fluids such as saliva, tears, blood, urine
and feces from a patient or anyone with those symptoms.
d) If you have to attend to the patient in an emergency, take precautions to protect yourself from
any fluid before serving him.
e) Washing hands frequently with running water and soap or using hand sanitizers
to protect against all infectious diseases.
f) Avoiding shaking hands.
g) Involving health experts in disaster and funeral activities during this period.

In addition, I use this opportunity to remind health workers to observe the principles of self-protection
infectious diseases (IPC) while providing care.

Dear citizens, the Government offers condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. In addition,
Let me conclude by dissuading all people and asking them to be calm during the Ministry
continues to closely monitor and take control measures. We will continue to provide information on
the course of this disease.

Issued by;

Prof Tumaini J. Nagu
CHIEF GOVERNMENT PHYSICIAN

https://www.moh.go.tz/storage/app/up...d348261855.pdf

**Pathfinder** · March 20, 2023, 10:33 AM

Translation Google

Experts investigate an unknown disease Kagera

1 day ago

Chief Government Physician Dr. Tumaini Nagu has said that the Government has sent a team of health experts to Kagera Region to investigate an unknown disease that has caused the death of at least five people.

Nagu said this while speaking to journalists and added that the investigation follows the presence of Ebola in Uganda, which continued for four months and caused the death of 55 people before the government announced in January to eradicate the outbreak.

In addition Dr. Nagu has said that the villages where the patients came from have been put under special care and various precautions have been given to the community, including avoiding touching hands and not touching people with symptoms of the disease without caution.

The disease, whose symptoms are similar to the symptoms of the Ebola disease that was recently reported in Uganda, has caused great concern to the community in Tanzania, especially in the Kagera region and its surrounding areas.

Those who lost their lives, include one employee of the Maruku clinic in Kagera region who is said to be the one who treated the first patient who was brought to the medical center.

According to the information issued by the Ministry of Health, it was explained that the disease was found in a total of seven people who had symptoms of fever, vomiting, bleeding in different parts of the body and kidney failure.

http://dar24.com/timu-ya-wataalamu-k...likana-kagera/

**Pathfinder** · March 21, 2023, 09:51 AM

Translation Google

The groom died of a mysterious illness

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

By Saada Amir & Alodia Dominick

...

Kagera One of the five people who died of a mysterious disease in the Maruku and Kanyangereko Bukoba districts in the Kagera region was a prospective groom.

The people who died are among the seven who were reported to have the disease while having symptoms of fever, vomiting, bleeding in various parts of the body and kidney failure.

The information that this newspaper has obtained from close relatives is that among the deceased whose bodies have already been buried, he was expected to get married in April this year.

The groom-to-be, Benson Rutabingwa died on March 15 after suffering from the disease which he is said to have contracted from three of his brothers who are among the five who were reported to have died.

"His funeral was held at his farm in Bulinda and was attended by his wife-to-be, his brother and health people. Neighbors and other relatives were not allowed to participate.

"The body of the groom-to-be left the hospital after it had been prepared and did not even arrive at home, it was taken directly to the farm for burial," explained our news source.

Reskipius Rutabingwa, the brother of the late Benson said his younger brother who was an entrepreneur of a grain and food store was living in the same village with his fiancee who were planning to get married.

"My little one started to cry and we took him to the Government hospital where he died," he said

He said that earlier the tests showed that he had Malaria and UTI, so he was given medicines for those ailments but he did not get better so they decided to take him to the hospital.

"His fiancé is doing well and he has left with his family not long ago," he said.

Regarding the relationship of the three people who died from the disease, whom he did not want to name, he said that they are not from the same family as the information is spreading.

"We were not one family, even though we are from neighboring villages," he said.

Another person who was buried that day was a former health worker at the Maruku center on the laboratory side, Amos Kashumuni, who left behind a wife and three children.

A resident of Bulinda Village, Nyangoma Kulwa said activities in the village are continuing as usual while precautions are being taken including not greeting each other by holding hands.

Speaking to journalists and some health workers in the meeting hall of the Kagera Regional Governor's office the other day, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Godwin Mollel said the results of the samples of the people who died of the disease have not yet come out and the information is ready will be released to the public.

"I ask the citizens to continue to take precautions against unknown diseases and be patient while the Government doctors examine the samples of our colleagues who died and what caused their deaths," said Dr. Mollel.

He asked the citizens to give information to their local leaders when they identify a person with symptoms of an unknown disease or to report the patient to the nearest clinic, health center and hospital.

Kagera Regional Head, Albert Chalamila urged the people to continue to take precautions against various diseases.

https://www.mwananchi.co.tz/mw/habar...-ajabu-4166762

**Pathfinder** · March 21, 2023, 12:55 PM

FROM AFP NEWS

Tanzania Says Five Dead In Marburg Virus Outbreak

By AFP - Agence France Presse
March 21, 2023

ADDS WHO quotes, details

A mysterious disease that killed five people in Tanzania has been identified as Marburg haemorrhagic fever, a cousin of Ebola, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

"Our public health laboratory results have confirmed that this disease is caused by Marburg virus," Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu said, urging citizens to remain calm "as the government has managed to control the spread of the disease".

Three patients are receiving treatment in hospital and 161 contacts are being traced by the authorities, she added.

"There is no need to panic or stop economic activities as Tanzania is not the first. We have all we need to control the infectious disease," Mwalimu said.

https://www.barrons.com/news/tanzani...break-333b66bc

-----------------------------------------------------------

Translation Google

The mysterious disease that killed five Kagera will be identified

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu,

By Baraka Loshilaa

...

Dar es Salaam. The strange disease that caused the death of five out of eight people who fell ill in Bukoba Vijijini district in Kagera region has been identified as Marburg.

It has been said that the disease is transmitted from one person to another or from an animal to a human.

The Government's statement was made by the Minister of Health Ummy Mwalimu while speaking to journalists today March 21, 2023 in Dar es Salaam.

Minister Ummy has said that the disease does not have a specific cure but is treated for the relevant symptoms that a person has.

"Until today, five days after it was reported, eight people have been infected and five have died and three are still undergoing treatment.

"We have managed to control this disease, it has not gone out of the area affected by this disease," he said.

March 16, 2023 by the Chief Medical Officer of the Government, Professor Tumaini Nagu, a few days after the disease was reported, he said that it has occurred in the villages of Bulinda and Butayaibega located in Marua Kanyangereko wards in Bukoba district

Today Professor Nagu has said that the people experienced symptoms of fever, vomiting, bleeding in various parts of the body and kidney failure.

So in order to control the disease from spreading, he has asked people to avoid touching the patient or body fluids such as saliva, tears, blood, urine and feces from a patient or a person with these symptoms.

He has said that if someone has to attend to a patient in an emergency, he should take precautions to protect himself from any fluids before attending to him.

https://www.mwananchi.co.tz/mw/habar...bulika-4167592

**Shiloh** · March 21, 2023, 04:58 PM

Source: https://www.afro.who.int/countries/u...-virus-disease

Tanzania confirms first-ever outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
21 March 2023

Brazzaville/Dar es Salaam – Tanzania today confirmed its first-ever cases of Marburg Virus Disease after laboratory tests were carried out following reports of cases and deaths in the country’s north-west Kagera region.

Tanzania’s National Public Health Laboratory analysed samples to determine the cause of illness after eight people developed symptoms including fever, vomiting, bleeding and renal failure. Five of the eight cases, including a health worker, have died and the remaining three are receiving treatment. A total of 161 contacts have been identified and being monitored.

“The efforts by Tanzania’s health authorities to establish the cause of the disease is a clear indication of the determination to effectively respond to the outbreak. We are working with the government to rapidly scale up control measures to halt the spread of the virus and end the outbreak as soon as possible,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.

WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health to deploy an emergency team to Kagera to carry out further epidemiological investigations. The emergency team will focus on active case finding in the community and local health care facilities to identify more contacts and provide them with appropriate care.

While Tanzania has never previously recorded a Marburg case, it has had to respond to other health emergencies including COVID-19, cholera and dengue within the past three years. A strategic risk assessment conducted by WHO in September 2022 showed that the country is at high to very high risk for infectious diseases outbreaks.

“The lessons learnt, and progress made during other recent outbreaks should stand the country in good stead as it confronts this latest challenge,” said Dr Moeti. “We will continue to work closely with the national health authorities to save lives.”

Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. It is in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. Many patients develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.

For Additional Information or to Request Interviews, Please contact:
Meenakshi Dalal

Media Relations Officer
WHO Regional Office for Africa
Email: dalalm@who.int
Tel: +254 703 254 761 (WhatsApp) (WhatsApp)

**Pathfinder** · March 22, 2023, 08:23 AM

News / Press Releases

Republic of Tanzania declares Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) Outbreak

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 22 March 2023: On 21 March 2023, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Republic of Tanzania declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in Bukoba district, Kagera region, north western Tanzania. Cumulatively, eight confirmed cases and five deaths, including a health care worker have been reported (case fatality rate: 63%), while three are undergoing treatment at designated treatment centres. Cases presented with fever, vomiting and bleeding from different body orifices. Samples collected tested positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at the National Public Health Laboratory.

This is the first time a confirmed case of MVD is reported in Tanzania. Kagera region is located in north-western Tanzania and is bordered by Uganda to the north, Rwanda to the west and Burundi to the south-west. The high population mobility within the region poses a risk of cross-border spread.

MVD is a highly fatal, zoonotic haemorrhagic disease caused by the Marburg virus. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids from infected persons, or contact with equipment and other materials contaminated with infectious blood or tissues, body fluids of infected people, and contaminated surfaces or materials. Although neither licensed vaccine nor approved treatment for MVD is available, supportive management improves survival. Existing infection prevention and control protocols for Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fevers can be used to prevent transmission of MVD.

“Africa CDC remains committed to support Tanzania and her neighbours to arrest this outbreak as soon as possible. We urge members of the public to continue sharing information in a timely manner with the authorities to enable a most effective response. These emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases are a sign that the health security of the continent needs to be strengthened to cope with the disease threats.” – Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Ag Director of Africa CDC.

The Ministry of Health has deployed rapid response teams to support further investigations. A total of 161 contacts have been identified and are being monitored. In addition, active case search, case management and risk communication are ongoing in affected communities.

The Africa CDC is immediately deploying a team of experts to Tanzania to support response efforts in the country. Africa CDC has also engaged the Ministry of Health of Tanzania to understand the cross-border context of the outbreak as this would guide regional surveillance strategies in containing the outbreak. Currently, two African Union Member States (Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania) are reporting active MVD outbreaks.

END

https://africacdc.org/news-item/repu...-mvd-outbreak/

**Pathfinder** · March 23, 2023, 09:39 AM

Translation Google

Authorities study whether the two Marburg outbreaks in Africa are related

23 March 2023 - 13:36

Nairobi, Mar 23 (EFE).- The health authorities will carry out genomic studies to determine if the recent outbreaks of the Marburg virus disease detected in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania are related, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday. of Africa (Africa CDC).

"Our pathogen genomics team is going to sequence samples from both places to see if there is a relationship between the current outbreaks," said the interim director of that body of the African Union (AU), Ahmed, at a virtual press conference on Thursday. ogwell.

"We have no evidence of any connection between the outbreak in Marburg in Tanzania (...) and that in Equatorial Guinea," the regional director for Africa of the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in another telematic press conference. Matshidiso Moeti.

"But genomic sequencing is being carried out in both countries to see if these two outbreaks are related," Moeti added, noting that "the probability is not that high."

Equatorial Guinea declared an outbreak of the Marburg virus disease on February 13, which to date has accumulated nine confirmed cases and 20 probable ones, with at least 27 deaths in total, according to the latest data released by the WHO.

Of the deaths registered in that country, seven are confirmed and twenty probable.

"The wide geographical distribution of the cases (detected in three different provinces of the continental region of the country) and the uncertain epidemiological links in the Central South province suggest the potential for undetected community spread of the virus," the organization said in a statement today. .

For its part, Tanzania declared on Tuesday the first outbreak in its history of this disease, with at least eight confirmed cases in the northeast of the country and five deaths.
...
https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/%C3%A1f...frica/48386094

------------------------

Africa CDC@AfricaCDC

AFRICA CDC Weekly COVID-19 & Other Health Emergencies Briefing | March 23, 2023

https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1kvKpmkNeeOGE

See Video at 22:00 / 38:24 minutes

-------------------------------
See also:

Equatorial Guinea: Marburg Virus Disease outbreak confirmed - February 10, 2023+ - 29 confirmed/probable cases (27 fatal)

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/...cases-27-fatal

**Pathfinder** · March 23, 2023, 10:00 AM

Tanzania Ministry of Health🇹🇿@wizara_afyatz

Public Information

4:16 AM · Mar 23, 2023

**Pathfinder** · March 23, 2023, 10:22 AM

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing – 23 March 2023

23 March 2023
...

On Tuesday, Tanzania confirmed its first known cases of Marburg virus disease.

So far, eight cases have been confirmed, including five deaths.

More than 160 contacts have been identified and are being monitored.

National responders trained jointly by WHO and the US CDC have been deployed to the affected region to carry out further investigations, monitor contacts and provide clinical care.

Tanzania was able to confirm the outbreak because the first samples were tested at a mobile lab that was set up as a result of work supported by WHO last year to prepare for outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic fever, including Ebola and Marburg.

WHO has offered further support to the government of Tanzania.

A month ago, Equatorial Guinea also reported an outbreak of Marburg virus disease.

Since then, eight additional laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported, bringing the total to nine confirmed and 20 probable cases.

WHO has deployed experts to Equatorial Guinea to support the government’s response, and to strengthen community engagement.

Marburg belongs to the same family of viruses as Ebola, causes similar symptoms, transmits between humans the same way, and like Ebola, has a very high fatality ratio.

While there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for Marburg, WHO is leading an effort to evaluate candidate vaccines and therapeutics, in the context of the outbreak.

The developers are on board, the clinical trial protocols are ready, the experts and donors are ready, once the national government and the researchers give the green light.

In the meantime, we are not defenseless. Careful contact tracing, isolation and supportive care are powerful tools to prevent transmission and save lives.

===
...

https://www.who.int/news-room/speech...-23-march-2023

**Shiloh** · 2023-03-24T21:15:36

Source: https://www.who.int/emergencies/dise...em/2023-DON451

Marburg virus disease - United Republic of Tanzania

24 March 2023

Situation at a glance
On 21 March 2023, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of the United Republic of Tanzania declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in the country. As of 22 March, a total of eight cases, including five deaths (case fatality ratio [CFR]: 62.5%) have been reported from two villages in Bukoba district, Kagera region, United Republic of Tanzania. Two of these cases were healthcare workers, one of whom has died. This is the first Marburg virus disease outbreak reported in the country.
As response measures, Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to investigate and implement interventions in the affected areas, including contact tracing and risk communication activities. WHO assesses the risk of spread as very high at the national level, high at the subregional level, and moderate at the regional level due to cross-border movements between Kagera region and bordering countries including Uganda in the north, Rwanda and Burundi in the west. The risk at the global level is assessed to be low.
Description of the situation
On 16 March 2023, the MoH of the United Republic of Tanzania announced that seven cases and five deaths from an unknown disease had been reported in two villages in Bukoba district, Kagera region, northern Tanzania. The cases were later confirmed as Marburg virus infection by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the National Public Health Laboratory, Tanzania. On 21 March 2023, the MoH officially declared the first MVD outbreak in the country.
As of 22 March, eight cases, including five deaths (case fatality ratio [CFR]: 62.5%) have been reported from Kagera region. The remaining three patients are currently undergoing treatment. As of 22 March, no cases have been reported from outside the Bukoba district of Kagera Region.
The first identified case reported travel history from Goziba Island in Lake Victoria in Tanzania and developed symptoms after returning to his village in Bukoba. The case died in the community. Four additional cases were identified from the same family as this index case. Further, two cases were reported among healthcare workers who treated them, one of whom died. No information is available on the eighth case; investigations are ongoing. Reported symptoms of the patients were fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, bleeding from various sites, and kidney failure. Samples from both deceased and live cases were taken and confirmed for Marburg virus by the National Public Health Laboratory.
Epidemiology of Marburg virus disease
Marburg virus disease is an epidemic-prone disease associated with high case-fatality rates (CFR 24-90%). It is caused by the same family of viruses (Filoviridae) as Ebola virus disease and is clinically similar. The current CFR for this outbreak is relatively high, at 62.5%.
Marburg virus infection often results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies. Once an individual is infected with the virus, it can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with the blood, secretions or other body fluids of infected or deceased people. Healthcare workers have previously been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed MVD. Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased can also contribute to the transmission of Marburg.
The incubation period varies from two to 21 days. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, and severe malaise. Severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and vomiting can begin around the third day. Severe haemorrhagic manifestations may appear between five and seven days from symptom onset, and fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas. In fatal cases, death occurs most often between eight and nine days after symptom onset, usually preceded by severe blood loss and shock.
Clinical diagnosis of MVD is difficult in the early phase as symptoms are similar to other febrile illnesses. The differential diagnosis for MVD may include other filovirus diseases, Lassa fever, malaria, typhoid fever, dengue, rickettsial infections, leptospirosis and plague.
Laboratory confirmation is primarily made by RT-PCR. Other tests can be used such as antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antigen-capture detection tests, serum neutralization tests, electron microscopy, and virus isolation by cell culture.
Although there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments for MVD, supportive care – such as rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival. A range of potential treatments are being evaluated, including blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies.
This is the first time that Tanzania has reported an outbreak of MVD. Even though there is an ongoing outbreak of MVD in Equatorial Guinea (for more details, please see the Disease outbreak news published on 22 March), so far there is no evidence of an epidemiological link between the two outbreaks. Other MVD outbreaks have been previously reported in Ghana (2022), Guinea (2021), Uganda (2017, 2014, 2012, 2007), Angola (2004-2005), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1998 and 2000), Kenya (1990, 1987, 1980) and South Africa (1975).

Public health response

Regional and district-level Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to investigate and implement response measures.
Contact tracing activities have been implemented to monitor people with similar symptoms in the community and at health facilities, including contacts of the known cases. A total of 161 contacts have been identified and 140 have been followed up and monitored by health professionals on 21 March.
Risk communication activities have also been initiated in the Kagera Region to provide health awareness education and prevention messages.

WHO risk assessment

The United Republic of Tanzania has reported its first outbreak of MVD, which is a highly virulent disease, with a fatality ratio of up to 90%. The affected region, Kagera, borders three countries (Uganda to the north, and Rwanda and Burundi to the west) and Lake Victoria, and cross-border population movements may increase the risk of disease spread. In addition, Marburg virus has been isolated from fruit bats (Roussettus aegyptiacus) in Tanzania and countries neighboring the affected Kagera region, therefore, the same bat species may carry the virus in this region.
Due to the high CFR and existing risk of spread of the outbreak to other areas of the country, inadequate human, financial and material resources to implement response interventions, and the likelihood of existing capacities being overwhelmed if the cases increase, the risk at the national level is assessed as very high.
Following the recent Ebola virus outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 23 April - 3 July 2022 and from 21 August - 27 September 2022, and Sudan ebolavirus outbreak in Uganda from 20 September 2022 to 11 January 2023, neighbouring countries in the subregion, including the United Republic of Tanzania, have been building preparedness capacities against filovirus diseases. In the West African region, an outbreak of MVD was declared on 13 February 2023 in Equatorial Guinea and is ongoing.
Based on the available information, the risk is considered as high at the subregional level, moderate at the regional level and low at the global level.

WHO advice

Human-to-human transmission of Marburg virus is primarily associated with direct contact with the blood and/or other bodily fluids of infected people. Marburg virus transmission associated with health care services has been reported in previous outbreaks when appropriate infection control measures were not or were inadequately implemented.
Healthcare workers caring for patients with confirmed or suspected MVD should apply additional infection prevention and control measures in addition to standard precautions, to avoid contact with patients' blood and other body fluids and with contaminated surfaces and objects.
Surveillance and detection activities, including contact tracing and active case finding, should be strengthened in all affected health zones. Measures to contain outbreaks of MVD include prompt safe and dignified burial of the deceased, identification of people who may have been in contact with someone infected with Marburg virus and monitoring their condition for 21 days, separation of healthy and sick people to prevent further transmission and care for confirmed patients, and maintenance of good hygiene and a clean environment.
Raising awareness of the risk factors for Marburg infection and the protective measures that individuals can take to reduce human exposure to the virus are key measures to reduce human infections and deaths.
WHO encourages all countries to ship samples (positive or negative) to a WHO Collaborating Center for confirmation.
Based on the current risk assessment, WHO advises against any travel and trade restrictions with the United Republic of Tanzania.

Further information

Citable reference: World Health Organization (24 March 2023). Disease Outbreak News; Marburg virus disease – United Republic of Tanzania. Available at https://www.who.int/emergencies/dise...em/2023-DON451

Announcement

Tanzania - Mystery illness kills five - identified as Marburg virus

Tanzania - Mystery illness kills five - identified as Marburg virus

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