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The Government of Tanzania has announced the implementation of emergency measures aimed at containing the outbreak of Marburg Viral Disease in the northwestern part of the country – Biharamulo district of the Kagera region. This is a remote area far from densely populated and popular tourist spots, located 1450 km (900 miles) from Dar es Salaam and 1068 km (664 miles) from Arusha. Nonetheless, to prevent the spread of infection, the national Ministry of Health has adopted additional safety measures for local and international travelers:
- All departing travelers from Kagera region will be required to truthfully fill out an online Traveller's Surveillance Form through https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz
- All persons in contact with a case are being monitored regularly and prevented from leaving their places of isolation until cleared to travel by health authorities.
- At any point of entry (airport, ground crossing or port), body temperature will be checked on all travellers and those with feverish conditions will be further evaluated by Port Health Authority.
- All travelers will be provided with health information and a toll-free number 199 at points of entry and advised to self-monitor and report any signs and symptoms of MVD. Those with signs and symptoms will be tested and treated at designated Government health facilities.
- All travelers and staff at points of entry should adhere to Infection Prevention and Control measures such as hand hygiene, keeping physical distancing and report any sign or symptom using the toll-free number 199
- All conveyance operators should adhere to exit screening measures implemented at points of entry in the country that include health screening, conveyance hygiene inspection, hand hygiene, use of alcohol-based sanitizers and reporting immediately of any traveler with any signs and symptoms to port health authority.
For additional information about the Marburg virus and the measures taken, as well as to report the onset of symptoms, you can call the hotline at 199.
Marburg virus outbreaks
The disease was first identified in the German city of Marburg in 1967. In subsequent years, small outbreaks of the disease were typically recorded in African countries including Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda.
In 2023, cases of the virus occurred in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania, and in 2024, Rwanda. The authorities managed to quickly contain the spread of the disease.
In January 2025, the WHO reported nine cases in the Kagera region, of which eight patients died. The Tanzanian Ministry of Health refuted this information, noting that in all cases, the test results for the Marburg virus were negative.
About a week later, President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced one confirmed case of infection. According to media reports, specialists have already identified people who have been in contact with the infected individual, and the situation is under control. To prevent the virus from spreading beyond the region and the country (with a population of 68.9 million in Tanzania), the government has introduced emergency sanitary control measures.
How dangerous is the Marburg virus?
According to the World Health Organization, the Marburg virus causes a severe disease with a high risk of fatal outcomes. It is often considered one of the most dangerous pathogens, similar to the Ebola virus.
Currently, there is no vaccine or effective drug against this virus. Treatment is carried out symptomatically with supportive therapy.
How is the Marburg virus transmitted?
The first human infection occurs from contact with bats of the genus Rousettus. Subsequently, the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people (blood, saliva, sweat, semen, etc.), as well as through contact with surfaces contaminated with these fluids. The disease does not spread through the air.
Symptoms of Marburg virus
At early stages - high fever, headache or muscle pain, severe fatigue. At later stages - stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, and difficulty breathing. There can also be severe bleeding (from the nose, gums, or eyes).
As previously noted, the Kagera region is remote from densely populated and popular tourist areas. The Marburg virus outbreak poses no risk to those who have come to Tanzania for climbing Kilimanjaro, safari trips in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and other National Parks, or on Zanzibar.
This is confirmed by a statement from the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who previously assessed the risk of the fever spreading after the outbreak in Tanzania as "low," noting that the WHO does not recommend imposing any restrictions due to the incident.
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