Tanzania Confirms Marburg Virus Outbreak

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President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced on January 20, 2025, that one person tested positive for Marburg virus in the Kagera region of Tanzania.

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WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus states that even though there is no approved treatment or vaccines, outbreaks can be stopped quickly.

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The Marburg virus spreads through means of direct contact - such as touching the blood, saliva, or other body fluids of sick people.

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People who get Marburg virus experience symptoms including high fever, headaches, muscle pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, however, when severe it can lead to death.

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Kagera sits at a crossroads where Tanzania meets Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. And the region has significant cross-border movement of people.

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Rwanda just fought its own Marburg virus outbreak that infected 66 people and killed 15 from September till it ended in December 2024.

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To stay safe, people should avoid contact with fruit bats, which carry the virus naturally, regularly wash hands and avoid close contact with sick people.

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In 2023, six people died in the same region of Tanzania during a two-month outbreak, therefore health officials are using lessons from that experience to respond faster this time.

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