World health agency confirms first Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in Tanzania

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

UNITED NATIONS, 23rd March. World health agency on Wednesday issued a statement in New York stated that Tanzania confirmed its first-ever cases of Marburg Virus Disease after conducting laboratory tests in north west Kagera region.

WHO reported that lab tests were carried out after 8 people in the region developed symptoms of the “highly virulent” disease, including fever, vomiting, bleeding, and kidney failure.

It said 5out of 8 confirmed cases have died, including a health worker, and 3 are being treated.

The agency identified 161 contacts of those infected, who are being monitored.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said that “The efforts by Tanzania 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.”

The agency noted that this is the first time Tanzania has recorded a Marburg case, the country has first-hand experience responding to other crises including COVID-19, cholera, and dengue within past three years.

WHO conducted a strategic risk assessment that revealed 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 commonly causes hemorrhagic fever, with a high fatality ratio of up to 88 per cent.

WHO said that it is part of the same family as the virus that causes Ebola. Symptoms associated with the Marburg virus start suddenly, with high fever, severe headache, and intense malaise.

The virus is commonly transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces, and materials, the agency added.

WHO concluded that there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus, supportive care, rehydration, and treatment of specific symptoms increase chances of survival.