Teams are on the ground in Tanzania after the outbreak of Marburg disease – which is similar to Ebola – was declared by the World Health Organisation. There are currently no vaccines
Nine people have been confirmed to have died from the deadly Marburg disease, as health officials declare an outbreak.
The condition which causes bleeding from the eyes has seen the World Health Organisation (WHO) warn that “more cases” were likely to be identified. The disease – which is highly infected – has a 90 per cent mortality rate for those who contract it. 10 cases have been reported in Tanzania, with nine people dying.
Ngashi Ngongo, from Africa Centre for Disease Control Centre told an online briefing that the figures reflected “the very high case fatality of Marburg”. He added: “We are doing everything we can with WHO and all the partners.” He said that teams, including members who had already countered a recent outbreak in neighbouring country, were already “on the ground”.
The WHO last month declared an end to a three-month Marburg outbreak in Rwanda which killed 15 people. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, from the WHO, said the global risk from Tanzania’s current outbreak was “low”. He added: “Even though there is no approved treatment or vaccines, outbreaks can be stopped quickly. WHO advises against restrictions. Now is the time for collaboration.”
According to the WHO Marburg virus disease – formerly known as Marburg haemorrhagic fever – is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. Early care with rehydration, and symptomatic treatment improves survival considerably. There are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments for MVD, but a range of vaccines and drug therapies are under development.
A fruit bat – Rousettus aegyptiacus – is considered the natural host of Marburg virus. The Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through human-to-human transmission. MVD was initially detected in 1967 after two simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia. These outbreaks were associated with laboratory work using African green monkeys imported from Uganda. The last outbreak before the current one in Tanzania was in Rwanda in September 2024.
