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Tanzania

Tanzania Marburg Outbreak 2025 - DREF Operation MDRTZ039

Attachments

Description of the Event

Date of event

09-01-2025

What happened, where and when?

On January 13, WHO informed member states that Tanzania had a suspected outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD). On Monday 20 January, the President of the Republic of Tanzania confirmed during a press briefing that there was an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease in the northwestern Kagera region, after one case was tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases.

This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba district of Kagera region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.

Scope and Scale

On January 9, 2025, the Regional Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Kagera region reported a suspected outbreak of Marburg originating in Biharamulo district.

According to the daily sit rep #4 issued by the Ministry of Health (MoH), there are two confirmed cases, 42 suspected cases, one bedridden patient that is being treated, one confirmed death, 8 probable deaths. The regional health authorities have conducted a total of 42 tests (2 confirmed) of those with MVD type symptoms and the results are awaited. Additionally, based on the contact tracing exercise carried out by the regional health teams, the Ministry has identified a total of 281 persons who have been in contact with the persons with MVD type symptoms.

According to reports from the region, the suspected Marburg cases are found in one of the districts of Kagera region, called Biharamulo. Kagera region is an important transit hub west of Lake Victoria, which borders Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi. Cross-border movement is significant.

The MoH in coordination with a team of WHO, UNICEF and other partners including the regional coordinator of TRCS supported an assessment of the situation on January 24 and announced the next steps and the MVD Response Plan.

The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. The Bukoba district in Kagera region experienced an MVD outbreak in March 2023, and zoonotic reservoirs, such as fruit bats, remain endemic to the area. It is worth noting that Tanzania has a Cholera outbreak, which has now spread to all 31 regions, and is also part of the Mpox IFRC Appeal. The MoH is yet to confirm any active Mpox cases in the country.