Tanzania Proclaims First Marburg Virus Outbreak Over
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that Tanzania has declared the end of its first-ever Marburg epidemic, a dangerous Ebola-like virus with a death rate of up to 88%.
According to WHO, the outbreak, which was notified in March in the northwest Kagera district, had nine cases, including six fatalities.
Fever, headache, exhaustion, and bloody vomit and diarrhea are among the signs of Marburg. It is transmitted to people by fruit bats and is from the same virus family as Ebola.
Despite the fact that there are no vaccinations or antiviral medications to treat Marburg, the WHO reported that prompt intervention by its local office and government initiatives helped stop the illness from spreading.
According to Matshidiso Moeti, its director for Africa, “Tanzania has been able to end the epidemic and limit the potentially catastrophic effects of a highly virulent disease.”
The likelihood of a global pandemic has increased, according to scientists, as a result of rapid human expansion pushing people more into the homes of bats that spread viruses like Marburg, Ebola, and others.
In four African nations where the virus has not previously been identified in people over the past two years, including Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea, which has been battling an outbreak since February, Marburg outbreaks have taken place.
The last verified case in Tanzania, according to the WHO, tested negative on April 19.
A necessary countdown of 42 days follows the declaration of the end of an outbreak.
