Dar es Salaam. In a concerning development, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that eight individuals have died from a suspected outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Kagera region, Tanzania. However, the Ministry of Health has countered this claim, stating that the samples collected have not confirmed the presence of the virus.
The statement from the Ministry of Health was issued on January 15, 2025, by Minister Jenista Mhagama, shortly after the WHO released its initial findings regarding the suspected virus transmission.
“The Ministry of Health has received reports of a suspected Marburg outbreak in Kagera,” the statement noted.
In response to these allegations, the Ministry has enacted several urgent measures, including deploying a team of experts to investigate the situation, collecting samples, and conducting laboratory tests. As of today, January 15, 2025, the laboratory results from all individuals suspected of exposure have not confirmed the existence of the Marburg virus, according to the statement.
Furthermore, the report emphasized that the government has bolstered its surveillance systems to monitor the potential outbreak. “The Ministry assures citizens and the international community, including the WHO, that it has strengthened disease monitoring systems and will continue to provide further updates,” the statement signed by Minister Jenista affirmed.
If the presence of the virus is confirmed, this would mark the second reported outbreak in the country; the first was on March 16, 2023, when the government announced an outbreak of an unknown disease in Maruku and Kanyangereko wards, affecting nine individuals in the villages of Bulinda and Butayaibega in Kagera region.
