Tanzania Confirms First Ever Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak

Tanzania has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD). Tanzania's National Public Health Laboratory analysed samples to determine the cause of illness after eight people developed symptoms including fever, vomiting, bleeding, and renal failure. Five of the eight cases, including a health worker, have died and the remaining three are receiving treatment. A total of 161 contacts have been identified and monitored.

In a press release, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said it was immediately deploying a team of experts to Tanzania to support response efforts in the country. The Africa CDC has also engaged the country's ministry of health to understand the cross-border context of the outbreak as this would guide regional surveillance strategies in containing the outbreak. Currently, two African Union member states (Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania) are reporting active MVD outbreaks.

Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. Illness caused by the Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache, and severe malaise. The virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials.

There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care - rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids - and treatment of specific symptoms, improve chances of survival.