Tanzania's president has announced an outbreak of Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, just a week after her health minister denied that there were any cases in the country. President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at a press conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed one case of Marburg in the north-western region of Kagera.

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has reassured the public and the World Health Organisation (WHO), on the country’s collective determination to confront global health challenges, including the ongoing threat of Marburg virus disease.

In March 2023, Tanzania experienced its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease, a rare and deadly hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola. That outbreak also occurred in the Kagera region, which borders Uganda and Rwanda.

Tanzania’s president says one sample from a remote northern part of the country has tested positive for Marburg disease.