Off The Record
8 People Have Died From “Eye-Bleeding Disease,” Prompting Doctors To Issue An Urgent Warning
An ‘eye-bleeding sickness’ has prompted doctors worldwide to issue a warning after nine suspected instances, including eight fatalities, were recently recorded.
World Health Organization (WHO) global health chiefs have issued a warning about Marburg virus outbreaks in Tanzania, Africa.
The Tanzanian government has refuted reports of a possible Marburg outbreak, though.
Although it is difficult to spread, the potentially fatal hemorrhagic fever is spread by human fluids, contaminated items, or infected animals.
What are the symptoms of the Marburg virus?
Despite the terrible and sudden symptoms, which include internal bleeding or bleeding from the lips, eyes, or ears, the disease is still generally incurable because to the lack of immunizations.
Additional symptoms include a ‘ghost-like’ appearance with deep-set eyes, fever, muscle soreness, rashes, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting, and headaches that get worse with time.
Doctors caution that in the early stages, it is challenging to diagnose Marburg since it might resemble other tropical diseases like malaria and Ebola.
Concerns raised
Experts believe Marburg was the origin of the unexpected disease that killed five individuals and sickened six others earlier this month, prompting officials to voice worries.
All of the reported cases to date have been documented in the districts of Biharamulo and Muleba in the northeastern Kagera region, where the WHO has dispatched its specialist teams.
Since the virus has a case-fatality ratio of up to 88 percent, medical professionals are cautioning that it may spread to nearby nations like Rwanda and Burundi. They have also issued a warning for travelers.
‘Low global risk’
The WHO emphasised: “The global risk is currently assessed as low. There is no confirmed international spread at this stage, although there are concerns about potential risks.”
The announcement that it has expanded to Tanzania coincides with the conclusion of a Marburg outbreak in Rwanda that killed 15 people and infected 66 just one month ago.
Despite the fact that healthcare personnel made up an estimated 80% of the infected, the nation was praised internationally for their crisis management and low death rate.
In contrast, an outbreak that lasted over two months in March of last year was a challenge for Tanzania’s Bukoba district.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, stated on Twitter on January 14 that more cases might be discovered in the coming days “as disease surveillance improves.”
WHO officials also said in a separate statement: “The source of the outbreak is currently unknown. The delayed detection and isolation of cases, coupled with ongoing contact tracing, indicates lack of a full information of the current outbreak.”
According to the experts, because of the “Kagera region’s strategic location as a transit hub, with significant cross-border movement of the population to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” “more cases” will be detected with the risk deemed “high.”
The statement continued: “Reportedly, some of the suspected cases are in districts near international borders, highlighting the potential for spread into neighbouring countries.”
“Marburg is not easily transmissible. In most instances, it requires contact with the body fluids of a sick patient presenting with symptoms or with surfaces contaminated with these fluids.”
“However, it cannot be excluded that a person exposed to the virus may be traveling.”
Tanzania’s response
Since then, Tanzania’s Health Minister Jenista Mhagama has asserted that all suspected cases tested negative for the Marburg virus following sample analysis.
“As of 15th January 2025, laboratory results for all suspected individuals were negative for Marburg virus,” she said, before saying they ‘would like to assure the international organisations, including WHO that we shall always keep them up to date with ongoing development’.
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