At least eight cases and five deaths have been reported by Tanzanian health authorities in the past week; the disease had already been identified in Equatorial Guinea
The health authorities of Tanzania confirmed this Tuesday 21, an outbreak of the virus disease of Marburg, one of the deadliest in the world. In total, there are so far at least eight confirmed cases in northwest cities and five deaths in the African country.
“So far, five days after the report (the emergence of a rare haemorrhagic fever in northeastern Tanzania), eight people have been infected, of whom five have died and three are still being treated,” said the Minister of Health of Tanzania. Tanzania, Ummy Mwalim.
“We have managed to control this disease, which has not continued to spread from the affected area,” added Ummy, who appealed to the population for calm.
Laboratory confirmed cases have been detected in the cities of Bulinda AND Butayaibegaboth located in the northwestern Bukoba district on the border Uganda and near the borders of Rwanda AND Burundi.
Tumaini Nagu, a Tanzanian government medical specialist, told local media that Marburg’s patients had fever, vomiting, bleeding from various parts of the body and kidney failure. He also urged Tanzanians to avoid touching potential patients and their fluids, as well as report any probable cases to health authorities.
Marburg is a highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever of the same family as the better known ebola. Currently, there is another active outbreak in Equatorial Guineain which there are at least nine cases, of which one confirmed diagnosis, four probable cases and four suspected cases, according to the data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Previously, the disease had already been detected in Ghana (three confirmed infections in 2022), Guinea (2021), Uganda (2017, 2014, 2012 and 2007), Angola (2004-2005), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ( 1998 and 2000), Kenya (1990, 1987 and 1980) and South Africa (1975).
Like Ebola, Marburg causes sudden bleeding and can cause death within days, with an incubation period of 2 to 21 days and a mortality rate of up to 88%.
The disease, for which there is no specific vaccine or cure, was detected in 1967 in the German city of Marburg – hence the name – by laboratory technicians who were infected while investigating monkeys brought from Uganda.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
