Uganda to Conduct Screenings at Tanzania Border Following Marburg Outbreak.

Uganda will be conducting screenings for all individuals entering the country through the Uganda-Tanzania border due to a confirmed case of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Tanzania.

Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Senior Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Health, stated that the decision was made following a meeting by top officials in the ministry on Tuesday. The screenings will commence at the border points of Kasensero, Kikagati, and Mutukula.

Ainebyoona stated that certain mobile labs, which were utilized during the Ebola outbreak in Mubende and Kassanda, will be relocated to the border in order to ensure quick screening and sample collection.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement indicating that the National Public Health Laboratory of Tanzania had examined samples to identify the source of sickness among eight individuals in the Kagera region of north-west Tanzania.

These individuals were displaying symptoms such as fever, vomiting, bleeding, and kidney failure.

Out of the eight cases that were identified in Tanzania's Kagera region, five individuals, including a healthcare worker, have passed away, while the other three are receiving medical treatment.

 Currently, a total of 161 individuals who may have come into contact with the infected persons have been identified and are being closely monitored.

“The efforts by Tanzania’s health authorities to establish the cause of the disease are a clear indication of the 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,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa.

The Marburg Disease Outbreak in Tanzania is the first of its kind in the country. In contrast, Uganda has experienced multiple outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fever, including Marburg and Ebola.

Marburg, which is believed to be transmitted through contact with blood, bodily fluids, and secretions of infected animals or people, is highly contagious. Bats and monkeys are thought to be carriers of the virus. Uganda recently succeeded in containing an Ebola outbreak.

The initial outbreak of Marburg Disease occurred in Marburg, Germany in the 1960s. At that time, researchers were conducting a study that involved monkeys imported from Uganda.

The Ministry of Health has emphasized the importance of community vigilance in managing and containing outbreaks of fatal infectious diseases. They urge individuals to promptly report any suspected cases to a nearby health facility. This early reporting allows for prompt testing, diagnosis, and treatment of infected individuals while also helping to prevent further spread of the disease.

The Ministry of Health has cautioned individuals, including healthcare workers, to avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of individuals who exhibit bleeding tendencies or symptoms indicative of Marburg virus disease. This measure is critical in preventing the spread of the virus.

Furthermore, the Ministry recommends that health workers be allowed to conduct dignified burials for victims who may have died from Marburg virus disease. This approach helps to minimize the risk of transmitting the disease to others.