Fears new Ebola-like ‘eye-bleeding disease’ outbreak that’s killed 8 might spread globally as more cases ‘expected’
A SUSPECTED outbreak of a deadly ‘eye bleeding disease’ has sparked fears of a wider spread.
So far, the Ebola-like illness has infected nine people and killed eight – with the World Health Organisation (WHO) warning that “more cases are expected to be identified”.
Cases of suspected Marburg virus disease were reported in the Kagera region of Tanzania, mere months after alarms were sounded in neighbouring Rwanda.
Marburg – which has previously been flagged by the WHO as a “priority pathogen” with pandemic potential – is a severe, often fatal illness that can cause symptoms like fever, vomiting blood and diarrhoea, and uncontrolled bleeding from the eyes, nose and gums, at the later stages.
There is currently no way to cure it, though several vaccines and drugs are under development.
WHO was first alerted to the cases in Tanzania on January 10 after six people developed Marburg symptoms, with all but one dying.
As of January 11, nine suspected cases were reported including eight across two districts – Biharamulo and Muleba.
Eight of the nine people died, meaning the cases have a fatality rate of 89 per cent.
Tanzania’s National Public Health Laboratory has collected samples from two patients for testing, but it still hasn’t been officially confirmed that the outbreak has been caused my Marburg virus.
Health authorities also raced to identify people who’ve come in contact with the victims, including healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, national rapid response teams have been deployed to investigate and curb the outbreak.
There’s a “high” risk of cases spreading further across Tanzania “due to several concerning factors,” the WHO said in its report.
“The reporting of suspected Marburg virus disease cases from two districts suggests geographic spread.
“The delayed detection and isolation of cases, coupled with ongoing contact tracing, indicates lack of a full information of the current outbreak.”
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a social media post: “We would expect further cases in coming days as disease surveillance improves.”
It added that the source of the outbreak if currently unknown.
What is Marburg virus?
Marburg is a filovirus like its more famous cousin, Ebola.
These are part of a broader group of viruses that can cause viral haemorrhagic fever, a syndrome of fever and bleeding.
Up to 90 per cent of those infected die.
The first outbreaks occurred in 1967 in lab workers in Germany and Yugoslavia who were working with African green monkeys imported from Uganda.
The virus was identified in a lab in Marburg, Germany.
Since then, outbreaks have occurred in a handful of countries in Africa, less frequently than Ebola.
Marburg’s natural host is a fruit bat, but it can also infect primates, pigs and other animals.
Human outbreaks start after a person has contact with an infected animal.
It’s spread between people mainly through direct contact, especially with bodily fluids, and it causes an illness like Ebola, with fever, headache and malaise, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, and aches and pains.
The bleeding follows about five days later, and it can be fatal in up to 90 per cent of people infected.
There’s also a high risk of the virus spreading wider across neighbouring countries “due to 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”, WHO officials added.
“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. However, it cannot be excluded that a person exposed to the virus may be travelling.”
As for the risk of transmission on a global level, this remains “low” according to the WHO.
“There is no confirmed international spread at this stage, although there are concerns about potential risks,” it explained.
“Kagera region, while not close to Tanzania’s capital or major international airports, is well-connected through transportation networks, and has an airport that connects to Dar es Salaam for onward travel outside Tanzania by air.
“This highlights the need for enhanced surveillance and case management capacities at relevant points of entry and borders, and close coordination with neighbouring countries to strengthen readiness capacities.”
Dr Ghebreyesus said: “We recommend neighbouring countries be on alert and prepared to manage potential cases.
“We do not recommend travel or trade restrictions with Tanzania at this time.”
Like Ebola, the Marburg virus originates in fruit bats and spreads between people through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or with surfaces, such as contaminated bed sheets.
Without treatment, Marburg can be fatal in up to 88 per cent of people who fall ill with the disease.
An outbreak of Marburg in Rwanda, first reported on September 27, was declared over on December 20.
Rwandan officials reported a total of 15 deaths and 66 cases, with healthcare workers who handled the first patients making up the majority of casualties.
In 2023, another Marburg outbreak in Tanzania’s Kagera region lasted nearly two months, with nine cases and six deaths.
“Zoonotic reservoirs, such as fruit bats, remain endemic to the area,” the WHO said.
Speaking to The Sun following the outbreak in Rwanda, Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said cases could “crop up in any country globally”.
“The incubation period is between five and 15 days, plenty long enough for someone to get on a plane and fly anywhere in the world,” he explained.
The incubation period of a virus is the time between exposure to the virus and the onset of symptoms.
“Airport screening wouldn’t eliminate that risk due to the long incubation period,” Prof Paul said, as people could be travelling without showing any symptoms.