A test from a remote part of northern Tanzania confirms the presence of Marburg virus, announces President Samia Suluhu. The disease is highly contagious and can lead to death in 88 percent of cases if no treatment is given.
The World Health Organization WHO was the first to report a suspected outbreak of Marburg virus last week. At that time, eight people had died in the Kagera region.
Tanzanian health officials questioned the report and stated that tests had yielded negative results. But now the President confirms that new tests have confirmed a case of the disease. 25 samples gave negative results.
Marburg virus is an RNA virus belonging to the filovirus family, which causes hemorrhagic fever (hemorrhagic fever).
