Tanzania is witnessing another outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus and has confirmed at least nine deaths as of Friday.
Tanzania is witnessing another outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus and has confirmed at least nine deaths as of Friday. Amidst rise fatalities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has deployed a team of public health experts to Tanzania’s north-western Kagera region to tackle the crisis, support health authorities and strengthen response to the outbreak of this disease.
The officials appointed in the team are part of an initial 20-memeber inter-agency team from M decins Sans Fronti res, Tanzania Red Cross Society and UNICEF. The health officials work with national and local health officials to reinforce diagnostic capacity, disease surveillance, ensure effective case management, and help strengthen public awareness to prevent further transmission of the virus.
Alongside the deployment of this team, WHO has also shipped 1.4 tonnes of essential medical supplies to Tanzania. The supplies include diagnostic kits and personal protective equipment from Regional Emergency Response Hub in Nairobi.
The country has reported two confirmed and 29 suspected cases as of 23rd January 2025. In addition to tackling the virus, the health authorities are closely surveying and monitoring a total of 281 contacts in Tanzania.
Dr Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania said in a statement, that the focus is to rapidly halt the spread of the virus and save lives by working closely with the government to ensure a coordinated and effective response.
As Marburg-related fatalities rise to nine in Tanzania, Kenyan state is also on high alert as the two countries share a border. According to the Ministry of Health in Nairobi, Kenya has not reported any case pertaining to Marburg. However, the concern remains due to significant cross-border movements from Tanzania and other countries in Africa. The principal secretary for public health and professional standards has ensured that the Kenyan Ministry of Health remains committed to protecting the health and safety of every citizen.
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