Nine people have died in a new outbreak of Marburg, a virus similar to Ebola, in Tanzania. The virus has infected 10 people since the country announced the outbreak last week, with a death toll of 9, highlighting the virus’s 90% fatality rate. The cases were reported in Tanzania’s Kagera region, located in the northwest of the country, home to about 3 million people.

Health officials are concerned the virus could spread further due to the easy access to Tanzania’s main international airport in Dar es Salaam. The airport is well-connected by train, raising concerns about the potential for wider transmission, The Sun reported.
Ngashi Ngongo from the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) stated that they are working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to manage the outbreak. Authorities have identified 281 contacts of the infected individuals and are closely monitoring them for signs of the virus. Ngongo mentioned that 31 tests have been done, with two confirming the virus and 29 showing negative results.

There are currently no vaccines or treatments available for Marburg. Medical staff are focusing on helping patients survive the infection, which puts them at high risk. The virus can cause people to bleed from their eyes, a sign of haemorrhagic fever, where organs and blood vessels are damaged, leading to bleeding internally or from the eyes, mouth, and ears.

Marburg can spread through body fluids, contaminated objects, or infected wild animals. It’s thought to initially be transmitted to humans after long exposure to fruit bats in caves or mines. Symptoms begin suddenly with severe headaches, fever, diarrhea, stomach pain, and vomiting. As the virus progresses, it becomes more difficult to distinguish from diseases like Ebola or malaria.

In 2023, Tanzania had its first Marburg outbreak in Bukoba, where six people died. The latest outbreak comes just weeks after a Marburg outbreak in Rwanda was declared over. Despite the regional threat, the global risk remains low, as the virus does not spread easily between people, according to the WHO.