At least eight people have died in a suspected Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday.
The WHO received reports of suspected cases in the Kagera region of Tanzania on January 10th, with patients exhibiting symptoms such as headache, fever, back pain, diarrhea, vomiting with blood, body weakness, and external bleeding.
Samples from two patients have been collected and are currently being tested to confirm the outbreak.
The WHO has identified and is monitoring contacts, including healthcare workers.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “We are aware of 9 cases so far, including 8 people who have died. We would expect further cases in coming days as disease surveillance improves.”
He emphasized that the WHO is offering full assistance to the Tanzanian government and affected communities.
The WHO has advised neighboring countries to remain vigilant and prepared to manage potential cases, while urging against travel or trade restrictions with Tanzania at this time.
The Marburg virus disease, which belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus, is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever.
It is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
This outbreak follows a recent Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, which infected 66 people and resulted in 15 deaths before being declared over on December 20th.