Tanzania faces a deadly Marburg virus outbreak, claiming 8 lives in Kagera region. The government and WHO are mobilizing efforts to prevent further spread.

Tanzania is grappling with a new outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus disease which has already claimed at least eight lives in the north-western Kagera region.

Officials previously questioned whether the deadly disease was indeed present in the African country, which had seen 8 suspected Marburg deaths.

Tanzanian President Samia Sululu Hassan confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus after its health ministry had previously denied the spread.

Tanzania's president has announced an outbreak of Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, just a week after her health minister denied that there were any cases in the country. President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at a press conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed one case of Marburg in the north-western region of Kagera.

Ugandan officials said the country was on high alert to prevent the spread of Marburg virus disease (MVD) following an outbreak in neighbouring Rwanda. A video shared on TikTok two months later purported to show Uganda’s health minister announcing that the virus had crossed the border,

The disease is a close cousin of Ebola, causing similar symptoms and spreading in the same way. It can cause death in up to 88% of infected people.

Tanzania’s president says one sample from a remote northern part of the country has tested positive for Marburg disease.

The CDC has issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Rwanda due to an outbreak of the Marburg virus. The agency will also screen travelers from Rwanda.

The World Health Organization called on the US to reconsider President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the agency, suggesting the move could undermine global health security. Most Read from BloombergT

ARUSHA, Tanzania (AP) — Tanzania’s president said Monday that one sample from a remote part of northern Tanzania tested positive for Marburg disease, a highly infectious virus which can be fatal in up to 88% of cases without treatment.