Kenya on high alert after Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania

KENYA—Kenya has heightened its alertness following the confirmation of a Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania’s Kagera region.

The outbreak has resulted in eight fatalities from nine reported cases, raising concerns about the virus’s potential spread across the region.

This recent outbreak comes only months after the East African Community (EAC) emphasized the need for urgent regional collaboration to combat Marburg Virus Disease (MVD).

In October 2024, the EAC called for coordinated action following Rwanda’s first-ever outbreak of the disease.

Rwanda reported its initial cases on September 27, 2024, and within just three days, the number of cases had risen to 29, with 10 fatalities.

In response to the severity of the outbreak in Rwanda, the World Health Organization (WHO) swiftly alerted neighbouring countries, including Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, and Kenya.

These warnings highlighted the risk of further spread and urged these nations to bolster their surveillance systems and preparedness measures.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been actively monitoring the situation.

On January 13, 2025, WHO confirmed a suspected outbreak in Kagera through its Event Information Site (EIS), a secure platform for notifying member states and International Health Regulations (IHR) State Parties about emerging health threats.

The organization has since issued alerts to countries neighboring Tanzania, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Mozambique, urging them to remain vigilant and prepared to handle potential cases.

Marburg Virus Disease is a highly contagious and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus, a member of the same family as the Ebola virus.

 The disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals or through contaminated items like clothing and bedding.

 Due to its high transmissibility, the virus poses a significant public health risk, especially in regions with limited healthcare resources.

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