THE East African Community (EAC) has expressed its unwavering solidarity with Tanzania and other key stakeholders following the confirmation of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Kagera Region.

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

In a statement availed to the media yesterday, the EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, commended Tanzania’s leadership and the invaluable support provided by global partners in addressing the outbreak.

He emphasised 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   Ariik, acknowledging the critical role of coordinated efforts in mitigating the impact of health emergencies

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 prioritise enhancing regional capacities to respond to such crises while reinforcing 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 crucial expertise in outbreak containment. The EAC Secretariat is encouraging partner States to share best practices and technical expertise to strengthen the regional response to the 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   rapidly deployable experts (RDE) pool to ensure swift expert response in outbreak areas

Additional measures include strengthening Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), establishing 43 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in border areas, and training border staff, health workers, and community leaders

The EAC Secretariat has prioritised strengthening Tanzania’s capacities to respond to the current outbreak by deploying a mobile laboratory where MVD testing is actively being conducted. Furthermore, 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, varying from 24 percent to 88 percent, depending on the 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 primary 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 diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding from various parts of the body (in later stages of the disease) are also common

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 sanitizers, avoid contact with fruit bats and their excretions, as these are considered the natural hosts of the virus, practice safe burial practices to minimise 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, and 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 improving survival chances, isolate themselves to prevent spreading the virus to others, notify local health authorities or go to the nearest healthcare facility for assessment, and 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.