Tanzanian President Samia Suhulu Hassan has confirmed the outbreak of the Marburg virus

Tanzania’s president has announced an outbreak of the Marburg virus, a virus similar to Ebola, a week after his health minister denied there had been any cases in the country.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan told a press conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed a case of Marburg in the northwestern region of Kagera.

“We are confident that we will overcome this challenge again,” said Samia, referring to the previous outbreak in Tanzania two years ago.

On January 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a suspected Marburg outbreak in the country, recording nine suspected cases and eight deaths in Kagera in five days.

But Tanzania’s Health Minister Jenista Mhagama said in a statement that after testing the samples, all the suspected cases had tested negative for Marburg.

At a press conference on Monday, which was held in conjunction with the WHO, President Samia said his government had stepped up efforts and sent a rapid response team to track all suspected cases.

Marburg is highly contagious, with symptoms including fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting and, in some cases, death from extreme blood loss.

On average, the virus kills half of the people it infects, according to the WHO.

Tanzania says that along with the confirmed case, authorities have taken samples from 24 other people suspected of having Marburg. All of these were negative.

Meanwhile, the cause of the eight deaths reported by the WHO is still unclear.

Tanzania had its first Marburg outbreak in March 2023 in Bukoba district. It killed six people and lasted almost two months.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the global risk of the current outbreak in Tanzania is “low”.

“Although there is no approved treatment or vaccine, outbreaks can be stopped quickly,” he said. “WHO advises against restrictions. Now is the time for collaboration.”

On Thursday, the Africa CDC, the African Union’s public health agency, said more than 300 contacts had been identified for further testing. Health workers make up 56 contacts, while 16 on the list are known to have had direct contact with suspected Marburg patients.

The 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR) require countries to report public health events and emergencies that may cross borders. Kagera is a regular and busy route to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.

In December, neighboring Rwanda declared the end of an outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 in the country.

Marburg virus is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and then by contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for the virus, although trials are underway.