Tanzania News

Tanzania is facing a serious health crisis as the Marburg virus, a lethal relative of Ebola, has re-emerged, infecting nine individuals and resulting in eight fatalities since January 11, 2025. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms and issued a travel warning, emphasizing the urgent need for caution among travelers to the affected northeastern Kagera region. Marburg virus disease is known for its hemorrhagic characteristics and high mortality rate, with the WHO noting that it could reach a fatality rate of up to 88%. Initial symptoms include fever, severe headaches, and muscle pain, progressing to more severe manifestations like vomiting and bleeding from bodily orifices. As there are currently no vaccines or specific treatments available, the WHO has dispatched a team to the region for containment efforts. Healthcare professionals treating infected patients are at heightened risk of exposure, prompting calls for extreme caution. This outbreak comes on the heels of a recent surge in cases in neighboring Rwanda, which had just declared an end to its own Marburg outbreak. Historical data indicates that previous outbreaks have led to substantial loss of life, underscoring the critical nature of the current situation in Tanzania.

Tanzania is confronting a severe outbreak of the Marburg virus, a deadly disease closely related to Ebola. Since January 11, 2025, nine individuals have been reported infected, resulting in eight fatalities. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned travelers to exercise caution when visiting the region, highlighting the high risk posed to healthcare workers treating infected patients. The outbreak has been traced to the north-eastern Kagera region, with all confirmed cases originating from this area. Following reports of multiple infections and deaths, local authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant. Initial symptoms of Marburg virus disease include fever, severe headaches, and muscle pain, which can escalate to severe bleeding and a high mortality rate of up to 88%. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Marburg virus, necessitating strict precautions among medical professionals. WHO officials are coordinating efforts to manage the spread of the virus and have deployed a team to support local healthcare efforts. Countries bordering Tanzania, such as Rwanda and Burundi, are also taking proactive measures in response to the outbreak, given the potential for regional spread.

The Tanzanian government has confirmed a positive case of Marburg disease in the remote Kagera region, following an outbreak that has already resulted in eight fatalities. President Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed the nation on Monday, alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, revealing that one test returned positive while 25 others were negative. Initial reports of the outbreak surfaced on January 14, prompting concerns over the highly infectious virus, which has a mortality rate of up to 88% without treatment. Marburg disease, similar to Ebola, is transmitted through close contact with infected individuals' bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, vomiting, and in severe cases, death due to extreme blood loss. This marks the second Marburg outbreak in Kagera since 2023, and it arrives shortly after Rwanda declared its previous outbreak over. Rwandan officials had reported 15 deaths and 66 cases during their outbreak, primarily amongst healthcare workers involved in treating the first patients. As health officials monitor the situation closely, there remains no authorized vaccine or treatment available for Marburg, heightening the urgency of public health measures in the region.

Tanzania has confirmed a case of the Marburg virus in a remote area of northern Tanzania, as reported by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday. This announcement follows earlier reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 14 suggesting an outbreak in the Kagera region that had resulted in eight fatalities. Initially, Tanzanian health officials dismissed the WHO's report, stating that preliminary tests were negative. However, further testing has now confirmed one positive case, while 25 additional samples returned negative results. The Marburg virus, which is highly infectious and can have a fatality rate of up to 88% without treatment, is similar to the Ebola virus. It is transmitted from fruit bats to humans and can spread through close contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. The symptoms of Marburg infection include fever, muscle pains, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, death due to extreme bleeding. This incident marks the second outbreak of the Marburg virus in Kagera since 2023. A month prior, Rwanda, which shares a border with Kagera, declared its own outbreak over, having reported 15 deaths and 66 cases among health care workers involved in the initial response. President Hassan expressed confidence in Tanzania's ability to manage and overcome the virus outbreak.

Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu, announced on Monday that a sample from a remote region in northern Tanzania has tested positive for Marburg disease, a highly infectious virus that can be fatal in 88% of cases without treatment. This development follows an earlier World Health Organization (WHO) report indicating a suspected outbreak that had resulted in the deaths of eight people in the Kagera region. Initially, Tanzanian health officials disputed the WHO's report, declaring negative results from tests conducted on samples. However, further testing confirmed the presence of the Marburg virus. In a statement, President Suluhu revealed that 25 additional samples returned negative results. The Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, is believed to originate from fruit bats and spreads through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can lead to severe blood loss and death. Currently, there is no authorized vaccine or specific treatment available for this deadly virus. The WHO and Tanzanian health authorities are now closely monitoring the situation as they work to contain any potential spread of the virus.

A suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Tanzania has resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, raising alarm among global health leaders. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported nine suspected cases of the virus as of January 11, 2025, concentrated in two districts of the Kagera region in northern Tanzania. While the global risk from this outbreak is categorized as low, the risk within Tanzania and its neighboring countries is deemed high. Symptoms reported among patients include severe headaches, high fevers, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal bleeding, which culminate in a staggering fatality rate of 89%. The WHO also noted that healthcare workers are among the suspected cases, indicating a potential transmission within medical facilities. Kagera, which shares borders with Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, could face further spread due to significant cross-border movement. The WHO has cautioned that, despite the virus not being easily transmitted, the possibility of individuals carrying the virus traveling to neighboring areas cannot be ruled out. The origin of the current outbreak remains unidentified, with ongoing investigations and contact tracing efforts taking place. Previous outbreaks have often linked back to human contact with fruit bats, which are known to be carriers of the virus. Tanzania experienced another Marburg outbreak in 2023 in the same region, resulting in nine cases and six fatalities. The declaration of an outbreak is made when 42 days have passed after the last confirmed patient tests negative for the virus.

A suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Tanzania has resulted in eight fatalities, raising concerns among global health authorities. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported nine suspected cases of the deadly, Ebola-like virus as of January 11, 2025, in two districts of the Kagera region in northern Tanzania. While the overall global risk is classified as low, the situation in Tanzania and its neighboring countries is deemed high risk. The symptoms reported among patients include severe headaches, high fevers, back pain, vomiting with blood, diarrhea, and later-stage bleeding. The WHO warned that the detection and isolation of additional cases, along with ongoing contact tracing efforts, suggest a lack of comprehensive information about the outbreak. Notably, healthcare workers are among those suspected to be infected, indicating the potential for the virus to spread within health facilities. Kagera shares borders with Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, heightening fears of cross-border transmission due to significant movement between these regions. Although Marburg virus is not easily transmissible without direct contact with infected bodily fluids, the WHO stated that the risk of an infected individual traveling cannot be discounted. The origins of the outbreak remain unidentified, with investigations underway that involve contact tracing and laboratory testing. Previous outbreaks in Tanzania include one earlier this year, which recorded nine cases and six deaths. Marburg virus outbreaks are known for their high fatality rates, ranging from 24% to as high as 88%. Health officials monitor cases closely, declaring an outbreak over when 42 days pass without new infections.

Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a prominent Tanzanian activist and critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was reportedly abducted by armed men in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday afternoon. According to Amnesty International Kenya, Tsehai was forcibly taken into a vehicle but was released just hours later. In a video shared with her 1.3 million followers on X, she expressed relief, stating, "I have been saved," although she appeared visibly shaken and emotional. Tsehai, known for her advocacy on land rights and freedom of expression, has been vocal against the Tanzanian government, accusing it of rekindling "tyranny." Faith Odhiambo, president of the Law Society of Kenya, confirmed that they were involved in arranging her release and emphasized that Kenya would not tolerate being a haven for such abductions. Concerns have arisen regarding Tanzania's political climate, with allegations of increasing repression similar to that seen during the presidency of the late John Magufuli. The government has seen a surge in arrests of opposition members, with serious human rights violations reported. A movement founded by Tsehai, Change Tanzania, suggested that her abduction may have involved Tanzanian security agents acting outside their borders to silence dissent. This incident is not an isolated case; Kenya has been criticized for allowing foreign governments to conduct abductions, a violation of international law. Past incidents include the abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye in Nairobi, raising fears that Tsehai's case could be a recurrence of similar actions. Amid these developments, Kenya has been facing its own issues with disappearances, particularly linked to protests against tax hikes, prompting demands for action to protect human rights in the region.