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President Samia Suluhu Hassan has confirmed that a single case of the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) has been detected in Biharamulo District, located in the Kagera Region.
The announcement came as she assured the public that the situation was under control and the disease had not spread further.
This confirmation follows a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) that earlier mentioned the deaths of eight individuals in the region due to suspected Marburg virus infections. The WHO’s report had raised concerns, but President Samia moved quickly to reassure the nation.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam alongside WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the President emphasized that Tanzania had managed to contain the outbreak swiftly, noting that all suspected cases had tested negative for the virus. “Tanzania is safe, and we welcome all visitors for tourism and business,” she declared confidently.
President Samia went on to explain the government’s prompt response, which included dispatching a team of experts to investigate the situation. The team, which was sent out on January 11, collected samples from those suspected to be affected and performed tests to ensure the virus had not spread.
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The initial tests, conducted at the Kabaile Laboratory in Kagera, were followed by further analysis at the National Laboratory in Dar es Salaam.
While the tests for most cases came back negative, one person was confirmed to have contracted the Marburg virus. Others, meanwhile, were found to be suffering from different illnesses, not related to the virus.
This marks the second time in less than a year that Tanzania has faced a Marburg virus outbreak, with the first cases being detected in March 2023 in Bukoba District. President samia’s swift action, coupled with the coordinated efforts of the health teams, has helped to contain the virus and prevent it from spreading further.
