- Tanzania is denying that it is currently dealing with a Marburg virus outbreak despite claims to the contrary from the World Health Organization.
- Despite WHO concerns, Tanzania's Health Ministry claims it has tested suspected cases and all were negative.
- Tanzania has also rejected calls from the WHO to share test samples with international labs for further analysis.
- Tanzania's government has defended its decision, citing its sovereignty and strengthened disease surveillance systems.
- The government has also deployed rapid health response teams to Kagera and continues to conduct tests on suspected Marburg cases.
In a brewing diplomatic spat with the World Health Organization, the government of Tanzania has firmly denied that it is experiencing an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus within its borders.
The East African nation's Ministry of Health has declared that laboratory tests on suspected cases in the northern Kagera Region have all returned negative for the virus.
This announcement comes after the WHO raised alarms about potential new infections, urging Tanzania to share samples with international laboratories for further analysis. (Related: CDC issues warning about traveling to Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea due to outbreaks of Marburg virus.)
The Marburg virus, a close relative of Ebola, is a highly infectious and often fatal disease. It spreads through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces, causing symptoms such as high fever, vomiting blood and severe bleeding.
With a fatality rate as high as 88 percent, the virus is a serious public health threat, particularly in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.
Tanzania's Kagera Region, which borders Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is especially vulnerable due to its role as a transit hub for trade and travel within East Africa.
Tanzania claims it can independently handle any Marburg cases without WHO intervention
The WHO’s concerns stem from reports of nine suspected cases in Kagera, including eight deaths, over a five-day period. Patients exhibited symptoms consistent with Marburg, prompting the global health body to call for immediate action.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for Tanzania to follow standard procedures, including submitting samples to international reference labs and conducting further testing.
However, Tanzania has pushed back against these demands, asserting its capability to handle the situation independently. Health Minister Jenista Mhagama stated that the country has strengthened its disease surveillance systems and is fully equipped to detect and respond to health threats. She assured the international community that Tanzania would keep organizations like the WHO informed of any developments.
The last confirmed Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania also occurred in the Kagera Region in March 2023, during which there were nine confirmed cases and six deaths.
The virus's rapid spread and high mortality rate make early detection and containment critical. While Tanzania insists that no new cases have been confirmed, the WHO has warned that improved surveillance could reveal additional infections in the coming days.
Tanzania's government has taken steps to address the situation, deploying rapid response teams to Kagera and conducting laboratory tests on suspected cases. However, the lack of clarity regarding the total number of cases investigated has raised questions about the thoroughness of its response.
Visit Outbreak.news for more on disease outbreaks around the world.
Watch this video of infectious diseases expert Dr. Paul Cottrell discussing the Marburg virus.
This video is from the Dr.Paul Cottrell channel on Brighteon.com.
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