WHO Reports 8 People In Tanzania Africa Died Allegedly Exposed To Marburg Virus

Bats spreading the COVID-19-like virus were found in Russia. (photo: James Wainscoat / Unsplash Bat Illustration)

JAKARTA - Eight people were reported to have died in Tanzania, Africa, due to alleged infections with the Marburg virus.

This was conveyed by the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus quoted from Sputnik-OANA.

"On January 13, 2025, WHO informed its member countries and parties in the International Health Regulation (IHR) about the outbreak of alleged Marburg virus disease in the area of Kabra, Tanzania," Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X, Wednesday, January 15.

"Until now, we are aware of 9 cases, including 8 people who have died. We expect there will be more cases in the coming days as disease surveillance increases," Ghebreyesus added.

In December the Ministry of Health Rwanda announced the end of the Marburg virus outbreak in their country. Since it spread in mid-September 2024, a total of 66 Marburg virus cases have been reported and 15 of them have led to deaths.

The Marburg virus causes severe dengue fever in humans and is transmitted to humans from fruit-eating bats. The infection spread through direct contact of infected fluids.

Symptoms of the disease are characterized by high fever, severe headache and weakness.

According to WHO, until now there has been no vaccine or antiviral drug approved for the treatment of the disease.