Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has issued a travel advisory following the outbreak of Marburg Viral Disease (MVD) that has claimed five lives in Kagera region so far. 

The Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of MVD in the Lake Zone district of Bukoba on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, four days after reports of a "possibly contagious disease" emerged in the district, killing five people, including a health worker, who developed symptoms of fever, vomiting, bleeding from various body openings, and kidney failure.

Following the outbreak, the government has decided to implement and enhance public health measures to contain the epidemic and further prevent local and international spread in line with the International Health Regulation of 2005.

In a travel advisory Number 12 of 2023, issued by the permanent secretary ministry of health minister Dr Seif Shekalaghe, on March 22 which starts with immediate effect to implement effective measures related to international travel.

Travelers to the affected areas have been recommended to adhere to seven measures as directed in the advisory;

All departing and domestic travellers from Kagera region will be required to truthfully fill out an online Traveller’s Surveillance Form through: www.afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz.

All persons in the contact tracing list should be monitored regularly and prevented from leaving their places of isolation and travel. 

At any point of entry (airport, ground crossing or port), body temperature of all travellers will be checked. All persons with feverish conditions should be prevented from traveling in and out of the country until they complete the monitoring period and are given clearance to travel by the Port Health Authority.

"All travelers will be provided with health information cards with a toll free number, which is 199 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,"

"While in the country, all international travelers should observe adherence to infection prevention and control measures such as hand hygiene, keep physical distance, and report any sign or symptom using the toll free number," the advisory directs.

All Conveyance operators should observe adherence to infection prevention and control, including hand hygiene and the use of alcohol-based sanitizer.

All travellers should adhere to points of entry, exit and domestic screening measures being implemented in the country. This includes adherence to preventive measures by travellers and staff such as hand hygiene, use of alcohol-based sanitizers, and physical distance. 

To support the Tanzania government's efforts in monitoring the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to deploy an emergency team to the Kagera region to carry out further epidemiological investigations following an outbreak of Marburg, the first ever outbreak of the viral disease in the country.

Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said the efforts by Tanzania’s health authorities to establish the cause of the disease are a clear indication of their determination to effectively respond to the outbreak.

"We are working with the government to rapidly scale up control measures to halt the spread of the virus and end the outbreak as soon as possible," she said in a statement released on March 21, 2023.

What is Marburg?

Marburg virus disease is a rare and deadly disease that has, at times, caused outbreaks in several African countries. It is spread by contact with blood or body fluids of a person infected with the Marburg virus. It is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) or by contact with animals, such as bats and nonhuman primates, who are infected with the Marburg virus.

Marburg virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, rash, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Infection with Marburg virus is often fatal. There is no specific treatment or approved vaccine for Marburg virus disease. 

According to WHO, there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments approved to treat the virus. However, supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.   By Bethsheba Wambura, The Citizen