Tanzania Confirms Marburg Virus Case After Two-Year Hiatus

Tanzania has confirmed a positive case of the Marburg virus in the Kagera region, following an outbreak that previously occurred in March 2023. President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the case during a press conference, highlighting the government's strengthened response efforts despite earlier denials from health officials regarding the existence of cases. Alongside this confirmed case, 25 other suspected cases tested negative, according to health authorities. The World Health Organization (WHO) initially reported eight deaths related to the outbreak, although the cause of these deaths remains unclear. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the global risk from the outbreak is currently low, and urged for collaboration to prevent further spread. The Marburg virus, which is highly infectious and can be fatal, has no approved vaccine or treatment, and health officials are closely monitoring the situation due to the region's significant cross-border movement.