The Tanzanian government officially declared the end of the Marburg virus disease outbreak today after 42 days without any new confirmed cases, following the last reported death on January 28, 2025. This marks the conclusion of Tanzania’s second experience with the deadly virus, both occurring in the north-eastern Kagera region, with the most recent outbreak declared on January 20, 2025.

The outbreak claimed the lives of all ten affected individuals—two confirmed and eight probable cases. While devastating, the swift actions of Tanzanian health authorities, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, were instrumental in containing the spread of the virus.

In response to the outbreak, health authorities implemented a robust coordination and response system to detect cases, provide clinical care, prevent further infection, and work closely with communities to raise awareness. These measures were supported by the growing expertise in public health emergency response within the African region.

Building on experience from the 2023 outbreak, WHO partnered with Tanzanian officials to rapidly scale up key containment strategies. More than 1,000 frontline health workers were trained in critical areas such as contact tracing, clinical care, and public health risk communication. Additionally, over five tonnes of essential medical supplies and equipment were delivered to support the effort.

“The dedication of frontline health workers and the efforts of the national authorities and our partners have paid off,” stated Dr. Charles Sagoe-Moses, WHO Representative in Tanzania. He stressed the importance of remaining vigilant and providing psychosocial support to families affected by the outbreak.

Although the outbreak has been declared over, efforts are ongoing to strengthen local health systems and prevent future occurrences. WHO and its partners are procuring additional laboratory supplies and essential equipment to enhance disease surveillance and emergency response capacity.

Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent illness causing hemorrhagic fever, and it is part of the same family as the Ebola virus. Symptoms appear abruptly, beginning with high fever, severe headache, and malaise, followed by the possibility of severe hemorrhagic symptoms within a week. Due to its high mortality rate and ease of spread, early detection and rapid response are crucial in managing outbreaks.

Previous outbreaks and sporadic cases in the African region have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda. Tanzania’s successful containment of this outbreak reflects the region’s growing capacity to address public health emergencies effectively.

The declaration of the outbreak’s end is a significant milestone, underscoring the importance of global and regional collaboration in tackling health crises. Moving forward, continued vigilance and preparedness will remain essential to safeguarding public health in Tanzania and beyond.

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