Marburg Virus outbreak in Tanzania

Everybody is on high alkert! Marburg Virus outbreak in Tanzania. The Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a severe, often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus, transmitted from fruit bats to humans and through human-to-human contact. The case fatality rate ranges from 23% to 90% depending on the outbreak and patient care quality. Symptoms begin abruptly with fever, severe headache, and muscle pain, progressing to hemorrhagic manifestations. There are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments, but supportive care can improve survival rates. Preventive measures focus on avoiding contact with infected animals and practicing strict hygiene in healthcare settings. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has put Kenya and five other countries on high alert after the death of Eight people in the Kagera region, in Tanzania. In a statement on January 15, the WHO issued the alert in neighbouring countries including; Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique. “So far, we are aware of nine suspected cases including eight deaths across two districts in Tanzania,” WHO said.