Eight people have died following a chilling outbreak of Marburg Virus also coined the 'bleeding eyes' disease. Two districts in the northwest Kagera region of Tanzania have reported outbreaks of the Marburg virus, which has a 50-50 survival rate and is thought to be among one of the deadliest diseases on earth, reports the Mirror.
Now, fears are rising the brutal illness could potentially spread as the location of the Marburg wave is highly populated and often used as a "hub". The World Health Organisation (WHO) is investigating a total of nine suspected cases, of which eight of those resulted in deaths in the districts of Biharamulo and Muleba
WHO confirmed they received "reliable reports from in-country sources" on January 10 regarding six suspected cases of the virus, of which five of the infected had sadly died. However, one day later the number climbed to nine cases and eight deaths.
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The body said: "The cases presented with similar symptoms of headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhoea, haematemesis (vomiting blood), malaise (body weakness), and, at a later stage of disease, external haemorrhage (bleeding from orifices)."
"We would expect further cases in coming days as disease surveillance improves," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X. "WHO has offered its full assistance to the government of Tanzania, and to affected communities. Marburg virus disease is an infectious, severe and often fatal disease caused by filovirus. Rapid action saves lives, including ensuring people with symptoms receive prompt care.
"We recommend neighbouring countries be on alert and prepared to manage potential cases. We do not recommend travel or trade restrictions with Tanzania at this time."
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Samples have been taken from two patients and tested by the National Public Health Laboratory. WHO has said contacts, including healthcare workers, have been "identified" and "under follow-up in both districts."
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The terrifying disease usually kills its victims through blood loss or shock. People can be infected without symptoms for 21 days, while the disease incubates your body, with symptoms rapidly appearing as the disease progresses, according to WHO.
Marburg exists in bats but does not appear to harm them with outbreaks seeming to occur when the virus passes from a bat to a human before it is then able to spread through the human population.
“Once introduced in the human population, Marburg virus can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids,” the WHO added.
People cannot transmit the disease before their symptoms appear and they remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus. The virus has an incubation period of two to 21 days, after which it can appear abruptly.
In a statement on its site, WHO said: "The Bkoba district in the Kagera region experienced its first MVD outbreak in March 2023, and zoonotic reservoirs, such as fruit bats, remain endemic to the area. The outbreak in March 2023 lasted for nearly two months with nine cases including six deaths."
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