Tanzania: Doctors Without Borders team supports response to outbreak of Marburg virus

03/02/2025

Tanzania

A Doctors Without Borders team experienced in outbreak management was invited by the Ministry of Health to take part in the assessment of local response capacities that took place in January in Kagera, together with the WHO and other partners. Tanzania, January 2025. © Clemence/WHO

Working alongside the Ministry of Health and other partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), an MSF team with experience responding to epidemics is in Kagera region to strengthen local response capacity. We are providing essential protective and medical equipment, and trainings to frontline healthcare staff.

Following this, an experienced team in Oubtreak management was invited by the MoH to take part in the assessment of local response capacities that took place in January in Kagera, together with the WHO and other partners.

"The Tanzanian authorities have made significant efforts to contain the epidemic and promote collaboration between various health agencies," says Tommaso Santo, Doctors Without Borders Head of Mission. "For the time being, our response is focused on technical aspects, such as reinforcing case management capacities and implementing infection prevention and control measures.”

Doctors Without Borders will ensure that its response contributes effectively to limiting the impact of the outbreak on affected communities and preventing the disease from spreading further.

As of 28 January, the Ministry of Health has reported two confirmed cases, two deaths among confirmed cases and eight additional probable deaths, with 64 suspected cases and 281 contacts being monitored for symptoms of the disease.