Tanzania moves to curb Marburg fever outbreak

Tanzania has issued a travel advisory following the outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Biharamulo district in the country’s north-western Kagera region, which the government declared on 20 January, this year. According to Advisory No. 15 of 21 January 2025, all travelers from the Kagera region are required to “truthfully complete an online Traveler’s Surveillance Form” through https://afyamsafiri.moh. go.tz. The advisory, signed by Dr Seif Shekalaghe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, stated that all persons in contact with a case are being monitored regularly and quarantined until cleared to travel by health authorities. Additionally, body temperature will be checked at all entry points into the country and individuals with feverish conditions will be further evaluated by Port Health Officials. “It will be reviewed periodically as the need arises,” the advisory concluded. All travelers will be issued with health information and a toll-free number, 199, at points of entry and are advised to self-monitor and report any signs or symptoms of MVD. “Those showing signs and symptoms will be tested and treated at designated government health facilities,” it added. Travelers and staff at entry points must adhere to infection prevention and control measures such as hand hygiene, maintaining physical distance a n d reporting any signs and symptoms to the toll-free number, 199. Biharamulo is 1,450 kilometers from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital and 1,068 kilometers from Arusha, the country’s tourism hub. Finally, all operators of travel services must adhere to screening measures implemented at the country’s entry points, which include health screening, conveyance hygiene inspection, hand hygiene, use of alcohol-based sanitizers and immediate reporting of any traveler with signs and symptoms to port health officials. MVD is almost endemic in Tanzania’s western neighbors, but an outbreak in the country was only first reported in 2023. President Samia Suluhu Hassan recently stated that there was only one confirmed case of the disease. Meanwhile, visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated in Arusha that Tanzania remains classified as a low-risk country for Marburg fever. He also announced the release of USD 3.0 million from the WHO Emergency Fund to help Tanzania combat the disease, in addition to USD 50,000 that WHO had previously extended to support the initial investigation of the outbreak.