Moscow - Eight people have reportedly died in Tanzania, Africa, due to suspected Marburg virus infection, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday (15/1).
"On 13 January 2025, WHO informed its Member States and parties to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of a suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the Kagera region of Tanzania," Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X.
"To date, we are aware of 9 cases, including 8 people who have died. We expect to see more cases in the coming days as surveillance of the disease increases," Ghebreyesus added.
Last December, Rwanda's Ministry of Health announced the end of the Marburg virus outbreak in their country.
Since its outbreak in mid-September 2024, a total of 66 cases of the Marburg virus have been reported, 15 of which have resulted in death.
Marburg virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats. The infection is spread through direct contact with infected fluids.
Symptoms of the disease are characterized by high fever, severe headache and weakness.
According to WHO, there is currently no vaccine or antiviral drug approved for the treatment of the disease.