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Africa CDC commits $2M to fight Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania

By Wycliffe Nyamasege
On 21 January 2025 at 01:44

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has committed $2 million (about Rwf 2.8 billion) to support Tanzania’s efforts to contain a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in the Kagera Region.

The funding will bolster immediate response measures, including deploying a multidisciplinary team of 12 public health experts within the next 24 hours.

The team, comprising epidemiologists, infection prevention and control (IPC) specialists, laboratory experts, and risk communication officers, will work on the ground to strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, IPC measures, and community engagement.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu declared an outbreak of Marburg virus in the country on Monday, January 20, 2025, after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in Northwestern Tanzania’s Kagera Region.

The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys and is similar to the Ebola virus.

This marks Tanzania’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following an outbreak in the Bukoba District of the same region in March 2023 that resulted in nine cases and six deaths.

“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management," said Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC.

"Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and that of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” he added.

Dr. Kaseya has engaged with President Suluhu and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the outbreak response.

In addition to financial support, Africa CDC confirmed it had provided diagnostic and sequencing resources to Tanzania’s public health laboratories. PCR test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with further supplies in the pipeline.

Technical assistance will also be provided to strengthen pathogen detection and genome sequencing capabilities. The efforts aim to ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, better characterizing the virus for an effective response.

Support will extend to improving case management protocols and enhancing Tanzania’s capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.

Africa CDC announced that the agency will work closely with the Tanzanian government, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to stop the virus from spreading further.

The Marburg virus is a highly virulent disease that can spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated surfaces, or infected animals. The symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea, often leading to severe haemorrhaging in advanced cases.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC, has committed $2 million (about Rwf 2.8 billion) to support Tanzania’s efforts to contain a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in the Kagera Region.

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