WHO works closely with Tanzanian gov't to respond Marburg outbreak

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday said the agency is working closely with the Tanzanian government to respond to the confirmed outbreak of Marburg in the Kagera region.

Noting that its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met President Samia Suluhu to assess the situation and support ongoing efforts, the WHO said on X that the country's government has scaled up its response by enhancing case detection, setting up treatment centers, deploying a mobile lab, and mobilizing national response teams.

The UN agency has pledged continued support and has released an additional $3 million from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies.

After primarily denying WHO's suspected outbreak alert, Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.

Suluhu made the announcement during a press briefing alongside Tedros in the capital Dodoma.