The World Health Organisation has issued a stark warning after a new outbreak of a dangerous virus that has left at least eight people dead. Two districts in the northwest Kagera region of Tanzania have reported outbreaks of the Marburg virus,.
The virus is known for its high fatality rate. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is understood to be investigating a total of nine suspected cases, of which eight have resulted in deaths in the districts of Biharamulo and Muleba.
Marburg virus – which is known as the ‘bleeding eyes’ virus – has a 50/50 survival rate. It is believed to be among the deadliest diseases in the world.
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There have been fears that the brutal illness could spread as the location of the current outbreak is highly populated and used as a ‘hub’, Mirror reports.
WHO said its had received ‘reliable reports from in-country sources’ on January 10 of six suspected cases of Marburg. In five cases, the patient had died.
Just a day later, that increased to nine cases and eight deaths. WHO said: “The cases presented with similar symptoms of headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhoea, haematemesis (vomiting blood), malaise (body weakness), and, at a later stage of disease, external haemorrhage (bleeding from orifices).”
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X, formerly known as Twitter: ” We would expect further cases in coming days as disease surveillance improves. WHO has offered its full assistance to the government of Tanzania, and to affected communities.
“Marburg virus disease is an infectious, severe and often fatal disease caused by filovirus. Rapid action saves lives, including ensuring people with symptoms receive prompt care.
“We recommend neighbouring countries be on alert and prepared to manage potential cases. We do not recommend travel or trade restrictions with Tanzania at this time.”
Samples have been taken from two patients and tested by the National Public Health Laboratory. WHO has said contacts, including healthcare workers, are reported to have been ‘identified and under follow-up in both districts’,.
The virus often kills its victims through blood loss or shock. You can be infected without symptoms for 21 days while the disease incubates in your body, before symptoms start abruptly, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
Marburg exists in bats but does not seem to harm them. Outbreaks appear to take place when the virus is passed from a bat to a human before it is then able to spread through the human population.
The WHO said: “Once introduced in the human population, Marburg virus can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.”
People cannot transmit the disease before they have symptoms. They are thought to remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.
The virus has an incubation period of two to 21 days, after which they can appear abruptly. In a statement on its site, WHO said: “The Bkoba district in the Kagera region experienced its first MVD outbreak in March 2023, and zoonotic reservoirs, such as fruit bats, remain endemic to the area.
“The outbreak in March 2023 lasted for nearly two months with nine cases including six deaths.”