The Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in The United Republic of Tanzania, in Mid-March, was yet another opportunity for Uganda to test the sensitivity and alertness of its response system. This was more so given that the epicenter of the outbreak was a mere 82 km from the common border. There was no laxity, no slackness but immediate action.    

In just a matter of days, surveillance was heightened, clinical workers were prepared for any eventuality, risk communication, and community engagement were kick-started, infection prevention and control protocols were strictly enforced and even a mobile laboratory was quickly set up. Coming out of an Ebola Virus Disease outbreak a few months ago, Uganda’s action was indeed the apt illustration of “once bitten twice shy”.

The Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng accompanied by local and international partners led from the front, rallying responders never to lower their guard.  "We have doubled our efforts in screening all people coming to Uganda through Mutukula to ensure that the virus is not imported into the country,” Dr. Aceng assured the country in a national address held at Mutukula border.  “From my tour, I am encouraged that we have a community that is well informed about the outbreak in Tanzania, and we need to ride on that to ensure more sensitization on prevention of the disease is done,” she added.

Given the high traffic and robust trading activities at the Mutukula border point of entry, Dr. Aceng particularly noted the critical role of the port health officers and the surveillance from the Ministry of Health. She urged the teams to stay on high alert 24/7 to identify any possible outbreak of the disease within Uganda’s borders.

Personal safety of health workers, especially those attending to patients was another area of concern for Dr. Aceng given the painful experience of the Ebola outbreak in Mubende and Kassanda districts in which 19 health workers were infected and seven died.

“It will hurt me to see health workers succumb to Marburg when we have all the information on its forms of transmission. From now onwards, please do not touch patients without gloves. I also want to urge you to monitor mortality in areas around Mutukula. Let us not have five people die in a village and we do not know about it or its cause. We need to be that vigilant,” Dr. Aceng said. 

As is the norm, Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, the WHO Uganda Country Representative, was at hand to pledge full support to the Ministry of Health to prepare and respond in case of any reported Marburg cases.  “We are in touch with our colleagues from WHO Tanzania to ensure that we work together to end the outbreak in the shortest time possible,” said Dr. Yonas.

Information shared by the Government of Tanzania in their situation report of  27^th March 2023, indicated a cumulative total of eight cases with a Case Fatality Ratio of 62.5% reported so far. There were no new confirmed cases or death due to Marburg.

About Marburg Virus Disease

• Marburg virus disease, formerly known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
• The virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever in humans.
• Average case fatality rate is around 50% depending on virus strain and case management.
• Early supportive care with rehydration, and symptomatic treatment improves survival.
• The Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through human-to-human transmission.
• Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks.