Synopsis
Tanzanian health officials have declared the conclusion of the second Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after 42 days without new cases. The government implemented stringent measures to contain the virus and remains vigilant against other infectious diseases.Key Takeaways
- Tanzania's second Marburg virus disease outbreak ended after 42 days without new cases.
- Health Minister Jenista Mhagama confirmed the outbreak's conclusion on March 13, 2025.
- Strict containment measures were implemented by the government.
- The nation remains at risk for other infectious diseases like Ebola and mpox.
- The WHO collaborated with local health authorities for effective response strategies.
Dar es Salaam, March 14 (NationPress) Tanzanian health officials have officially declared the conclusion of the nation’s second Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after observing a period of 42 days without any new cases following the demise of the last confirmed patient on January 28.
Health Minister Jenista Mhagama stated that the final MVD case was documented on January 28, and as of March 11, the country had met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) criteria for declaring the outbreak over.
"From a scientific perspective, we have satisfied the requirements to announce the end of the MVD outbreak. Therefore, today, March 13, 2025, I officially declare the end of the MVD outbreak in the nation," Mhagama articulated in a public statement.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan had initially announced the outbreak of MVD on January 20. This marked the second instance of MVD in Tanzania, following the 2023 outbreak that resulted in nine reported cases and six fatalities.
During a press briefing alongside WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Hassan disclosed that laboratory tests carried out at the Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in the northwestern Kagera region identified an individual in Biharamulo District as being infected with MVD.
Minister Mhagama emphasized that since the declaration of the outbreak, the government, along with stakeholders and partners, took decisive measures to manage and curb the virus's transmission within the affected regions, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Nevertheless, she cautioned that Tanzania remains susceptible to other highly contagious diseases, such as Ebola, which has been noted in neighboring nations, and mpox, with two recent cases reported in Tanzania and additional instances globally.
The WHO stated that based on lessons learned from the 2023 MVD outbreak, they collaborated closely with Tanzanian health authorities to rapidly enhance essential response strategies, including disease surveillance. Over 1,000 frontline health workers received training in contact tracing, clinical care, and public health communication.
"The commitment of frontline health workers, alongside the actions of national authorities and our partners, has proven effective," remarked Charles Sagoe-Moses, the WHO representative in Tanzania.
"Although the outbreak has been declared over, we remain watchful and prepared to act quickly should any new cases arise. We are also aiding ongoing initiatives to provide psychosocial support to families impacted by the outbreak," he added.
The WHO indicated that the Marburg virus is highly virulent and causes severe hemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus, with symptoms appearing suddenly.
Previous MVD outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in various African nations including Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda.
