In the second outbreak of the virus in the East African nation of Tanzania, at least eight transmissions and five deaths have occurred.
The first Marburg outbreak on the continent was reported by the World Health Organization on February 25. On March 21, health officials announced a second outbreak. Marburg virus, a hemorrhagic fever virus, is frequently referred to as the “cousin” of ebola, which caused approximately 11,325 deaths in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.
According to the World Health Organization, on February 7, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea reported the deaths of several individuals with probable hemorrhagic fever.
On February 12, 2023, at the Institute Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing on a single sample confirmed the presence of the Marburg virus.
According to Tanzania’s health minister, Ummy Mwalimu, the national public health laboratory has determined that the outbreak first reported last week was caused by Marburg. One instance involves a five-person household, and at least 161 individuals in close proximity are being monitored.
Matshidiso Moeti, who’s regional director for Africa, said in a statement, “We are working with the government to rapidly scale up control measures to stop the spread of the virus and quickly end the outbreak.”
Moeti continues by stating that the nation has dealt with viruses such as COVID-19, dengue fever, and cholera. Moeti continues, “The lessons learned and progress made during other recent outbreaks should serve the country well as it faces this latest challenge.” To save lives, we will continue to collaborate closely with national health authorities.
