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Tanzania’s Minister of Health, Jenista Mhagama, announced on Thursday that the country is now officially free from the recent Marburg virus disease outbreak. Mhagama stated that Tanzania has not reported a new Marburg case since the death of the last confirmed patient 42 days ago.

The country first declared an outbreak on January 20. The outbreak resulted in two confirmed and eight probable cases, all of whom died. The last confirmed patient died on January 28.

A country must go 42 days without new cases before declaring an outbreak over, according to World Health Organization guidelines.

This was Tanzania’s second Marburg outbreak, both occurring in the northeastern Kagera region. The first was in 2023.

Tanzaian health authorities, in conjunction with the WHO,  launched emergency measures to contain the virus. The effort used enhanced surveillance and community awareness campaigns.

Mhagma urged citizens to not let up their guard despite Thursday’s good news.

“I emphasize all community members to remain vigilant even after the declaration of ending this outbreak through observing all recommended measures and adopt positive behaviors including hand washing using running water and soap or hand sanitizer,” she said in a statement.

Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease.

In Africa, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.