EAC supports efforts to contain Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in North-Western Tanzania
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 30th January, 2025: The East African Community (EAC) has expressed solidarity with the United Republic of Tanzania and other stakeholders following the confirmation of a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in the Kagera Region, north-western Tanzania. With two confirmed cases and 18 suspected cases reported, this marks Tanzania's second encounter with the deadly virus since the 2023 outbreak in the same region.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors, Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, praised Tanzania's leadership and the invaluable support provided by global partners in addressing the outbreak. He emphasized that such collaboration underscores the significance of unity and shared responsibility among nations during health crises.
“This outbreak highlights the importance of regional solidarity and swift action,” said Hon. Ariik, acknowledging the critical role of coordinated efforts in mitigating the impact of health emergencies.
Hon. Ariik further reaffirmed the EAC’s commitment to standing with Tanzania and all EAC Partner States in managing the current health emergency. He stressed that the EAC would continue to prioritize enhancing regional capacities to respond to such crises while strengthening collective preparedness for future threats.
Tanzania’s experience in managing the 2023 outbreak in Bukoba District, which resulted in nine cases and six fatalities, has equipped the country with critical expertise in outbreak containment. The EAC Secretariat is encouraging Partner States to share best practices and technical expertise to enhance the regional response to this outbreak.
In collaboration with partners such as the German Government through GIZ and KfW, the EAC Secretariat is advancing efforts to contain MVD and Mpox outbreaks while reinforcing pandemic preparedness. Key interventions include the deployment of mobile laboratories and the establishment of a Rapidly Deployable Experts (RDE) pool to ensure swift expert response in outbreak areas.
Additional measures include strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), establishment of 43 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in border areas and training of border staff, health workers and community leaders.
The EAC Secretariat has prioritized strengthening Tanzania’s capacities to respond to the current outbreak by deploying a mobile laboratory where MVD testing is actively being conducted. Additionally, the EAC has donated two testing kits, each capable of performing 96 tests, to support diagnostic efforts. In collaboration with the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), the EAC Secretariat is also providing technical guidance to laboratory experts. Further plans are underway to enhance regional surveillance through additional field missions.
Marburg virus is a severe zoonotic disease, similar to Ebola, and is associated with a high fatality rate varied from 24% to 88% depending on virus strain and case management. Transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. As there is no specific vaccine or treatment, supportive care remains the main form of medical intervention.
Symptoms of Marburg Virus Disease typically include fever (often high), severe headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue and weakness. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and bleeding from various parts of the body (in later stages of the disease).
To reduce the risk of contracting Marburg, members of the public are advised to:
- Practice proper hand hygiene using soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
- Avoid contact with fruit bats and their excretions, as these are considered the natural hosts of the virus.
- Practice safe burial practices to minimize exposure to bodily fluids of individuals who have died from MVD.
- Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for infected individuals or handling animals that may be reservoirs of the virus.
- Avoid contact with nonhuman primates in endemic areas, as these can also transmit the virus.
Individuals suspecting that they may have contracted Marburg should:
- Seek medical care immediately as early supportive treatment is crucial to improve survival chances.
- Isolate themselves to prevent spreading the virus to others.
- Notify local health authorities or go to the nearest healthcare facility for assessment.
- Avoid contact with others, particularly through bodily fluids, until the suspicion of Marburg infection is ruled out.
The EAC reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding regional health security through proactive measures, collaborative partnerships, and robust preparedness systems. Together, these efforts aim to mitigate the impact of Marburg virus and strengthen the region’s resilience to health emergencies.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight (8) Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Federal Republic of Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc by the Summit of EAC Heads of State on 24th November, 2023 and became a full member on 4th March, 2024