JAKARTA - The Tanzanian government said no one in the country had tested positive for the Marburg virus, after the World Health Organization (WHO) said at least eight people in the northwest were believed to have died.
"As of January 15, 2025, laboratory results for all people suspected of being negatively infected with the Marburg virus," Health Minister Typeta Mhagama said in a statement.
Earlier, the WHO on Tuesday said it had received reliable reports of cases suspected of being infected with the Marburg virus in the area of Kabra on January 10.
The victims showed symptoms of Marburg, including headaches, high fever, back pain, diarrhea, blood vomiting, muscle weakness, and external bleeding.
Dengue fever of the virus has a death rate of up to 88 percent, and comes from the same virus family as the virus that causes Ebola, which is transmitted to humans from endemic fruit bats in several parts of East Africa.
After receiving information about suspected cases, Minister of Health Mhagama said the ministry took immediate action, including the deployment of a team of experts to the area, investigation of events, collection of specimens and laboratory testing.
Meanwhile, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a virtual press conference from Geneva Thursday said Tanzania should "send samples it has collected to international referral laboratories and collect additional samples according to normal procedures."
"WHO supports the Tanzanian government and is ready to provide additional assistance if needed," he added.
Tanzania experienced its first Marburg outbreak in 2023, recording nine cases, including six deaths, in the same area.
In the statement, Minister of Health Mhagama said Tanzania had "strengthened the disease control system" in response to reports of the outbreak.
Previously, Tanzania was criticized during the COVID-19 outbreak for not sharing data on infections and ignoring precautions.
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