Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan held a joint press conference in the country’s administrative capital on Monday to take stock of the health situation .
Tanzania just announced this Monday a new case of Marburg virus disease in the Kagera region, in the northwest of the country. The announcement was made by President Samia Suluhu Hassan during a press conference in Dodoma, in the presence of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
« Laboratory tests carried out at the Kabaile mobile laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified a patient as being infected with Marburg virus “, declared the Tanzanian president. However, she clarified that “ the other suspected patients tested negative. »
According to health authorities, 25 suspected cases were reported as of January 20, 2025 in Biharamulo and Muleba districts of Kagera. All tested negative and are being closely monitored.
Faced with this situation, the WHO is committed to supporting the Tanzanian government. “ WHO, together with partners, is committed to supporting the Tanzanian government to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible and build a healthier, safer and fairer future for all Tanzanians “, said Dr. Tedros.
It should be noted that this is not the first time that the country has faced this disease. Tanzania had already experienced an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 in the same Kagera region, with “ a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths », representing a mortality rate of 67%.
-The Marburg virus, in the same family as the Ebola virus, is transmitted to humans by fruit bats and is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people.
To date, no approved treatment or vaccine exists for this highly virulent disease, although several medical countermeasures are in clinical trials.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, highlighted that “ The President’s statement and the government’s actions are crucial to addressing the threat of this disease at local and national levels as well as preventing possible cross-border spread. »
ARD/te/APA
