Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian government has confirmed one case of the Marburg virus in the Kagera region, marking the second outbreak in less than two years.
This case was confirmed in Biharamulo District, a shift from the initial epicenter in Bukoba during the first outbreak in March 2023, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of Tanzania announced on Monday, January 20, 2025.
As of Monday, she said, there have been 25 suspected cases, all of whom have tested negative, and authorities are continuing their efforts to monitor and manage the situation.
This Monday, President Samia met with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to discuss a wide range of health issues, including strengthening cooperation between the Tanzanian government and WHO in addressing the Marburg virus outbreak.
The meeting underscored the commitment of both parties to tackle the crisis effectively.
After the meeting the duo spoke to editors from various media outlets.
President Samia expressed her confidence in the government’s ability to contain the virus, emphasizing the lessons learned from the first outbreak.
“We demonstrated our ability to control a similar outbreak in 2023,” President Samia said.
“We are committed to doing the same this time with the proven strategies and resources at our disposal.”
These strategies include quicker isolation of infected individuals, effective contact tracing, community engagement, and the timely treatment of cases, all of which were proven successful in 2023 and are being implemented again.
Dr Ghebreyesus, for his part, also voiced strong support for Tanzania’s efforts.
“I commend President Samia for her dedication to safeguarding the health and well-being of her people,” he remarked.
“The investments made in emergency preparedness have strengthened Tanzania’s capacity to respond effectively.”
In response to the outbreak, WHO has pledged continued support, releasing $3 million from the WHO Contingency Fund for emergencies, in addition to the earlier $50,000 contribution to assist with initial investigations.
Both Tanzania and WHO have reaffirmed their commitment to working together to prevent the further spread of the virus, drawing on the effective strategies employed during the 2023 outbreak.
