The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a suspected Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania's Kagera region, which had previously experienced an outbreak in 2023.

On January 10, the WHO was informed of six suspected cases, five of them fatal, showing symptoms of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF), including headache, fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, and vomiting with blood.

By January 11, the number of suspected cases had risen to nine, with eight fatalities. Health workers are among the suspected cases, highlighting the risk of transmission in healthcare settings.

Although there is no approved treatment or vaccine for Marburg virus, an investigational vaccine was used in Rwanda's 2023 outbreak to protect health workers.

Due to its high fatality rate, infections among health workers and the virus’s unclear source, the WHO has assessed the risk to Tanzania as high.

Kagera’s location as a transit hub with significant cross-border movement adds to the regional risk.

However, the global risk remains low, as Kagera is not near major international airports.