THE government has announced that it is closely monitoring the ongoing Marburg outbreak in the country.

Roida Andusamile, the Health ministry spokesperson, said in an interview yesterday that health authorities are intensifying efforts to investigate the outbreak.

This follows reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicating that eight people have died in a suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Kagera Region.

The government trusts that once additional information and updates are available, details of the situation will be provided through official channels, she stated.

A WHO statement warned on Tuesday that the risk of further spread of the deadly disease in the country and in nearby countries is high.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, said the statement that the UN agency had informed member states on Monday of an outbreak of suspected Marburg virus disease in Tanzania’s Kagera Region.

"We are aware of nine cases so far, including eight people who have died. We would expect further cases in coming days as disease surveillance improves,” the statement noted.

“WHO has offered its full assistance to the government of Tanzania and to affected communities,” the agency affirmed.

In March 2023, Tanzanian health authorities announced that an outbreak of Marburg viral disease that had killed five people in Kagera Region was under control.

The highly fatal, zoW is caused by the Marburg virus, while human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids from infected persons.

Contact with equipment and other materials contaminated with infectious blood or tissues, body fluids of infected people, and contaminated surfaces or materials.