With two people reported dead from the disease in the Lake Zone regions, the East African Community has expressed solidarity with Tanzania.
This follows the country’s confirmation of a Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in the North-Western Region of Kagera.
When the World Health Organization announced that Marburg had erupted in Tanzania, the country’s minister of health at first refuted the reports.
So far 18 suspected cases have been filed with two deaths reported, this marks Tanzania’s second encounter with the deadly virus since the 2023 outbreak in the same region.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, praised Tanzania’s leadership and the invaluable support provided by global partners in addressing the outbreak.
He emphasized that such collaboration underscores the significance of unity and shared responsibility among nations during health crises.
“This outbreak highlights the importance of regional solidarity and swift action,” said Hon. Ariik, acknowledging the critical role of coordinated efforts in mitigating the impact of health emergencies.
Ariik further reaffirmed the EAC’s commitment to standing with Tanzania and all EAC Partner States in managing the current health emergency.
He stressed that the EAC would continue to prioritize enhancing regional capacities to respond to such crises while strengthening collective preparedness for future threats.
Tanzania’s experience in managing the 2023 outbreak in Bukoba District, which resulted in nine cases and six fatalities, has equipped the country with critical expertise in outbreak containment.
The EAC Secretariat is encouraging Partner States to share best practices and technical expertise to enhance the regional response to this outbreak.
In collaboration with partners such as the German Government through GIZ and KfW, the EAC Secretariat is advancing efforts to contain MVD and Mpox outbreaks while reinforcing pandemic preparedness.
Key interventions include the deployment of mobile laboratories and the establishment of a Rapidly Deployable Experts (RDE) pool to ensure swift expert response in outbreak areas.
Additional measures include strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), establishment of 43 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in border areas and training of border staff, health workers and community leaders.
The EAC Secretariat has prioritized strengthening Tanzania’s capacities to respond to the current outbreak by deploying a mobile laboratory where MVD testing is actively being conducted.
Additionally, the EAC has donated two testing kits, each capable of performing 96 tests, to support diagnostic efforts.
In collaboration with the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), the EAC Secretariat is also providing technical guidance to laboratory experts. Further plans are underway to enhance regional surveillance through additional field missions.
Marburg virus is a severe zoonotic disease, similar to Ebola, and is associated with a high fatality rate ranging from 24 percent to 88 percent depending on virus strain and case management.
Transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. As there is no specific vaccine or treatment, supportive care remains the main form of medical intervention.
Symptoms of Marburg Virus Disease typically include fever (often high), severe headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue and weakness.
There are also Gastrointestinal symptoms such as severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bleeding from various parts of the body (in later stages of the disease).