Report

UNICEF Tanzania Humanitarian Situation Report

Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak

Highlights

On 20 January 2025, the Government of Tanzania declared a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Tanzania after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in Biharamulo district in Kagera Region. From 23 to 31 January 2025, UNICEF was part of a government-led fact-finding mission to Kagera to assess the situation and identify priority needs. The Ministry of Health, with support from partners, took immediate containment measures, including strengthening the surveillance across all official ports of entry with the neighbouring countries of Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Based on lessons learned from the 2023 Marburg outbreak response, UNICEF had pre-positioned critical infection prevention supplies in Kagera to meet immediate needs. Following the outbreak declaration, UNICEF dispatched additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), high-performance tents, liquid soap, buckets, and water purification chemicals to affected areas in Kagera. To ramp up the response, UNICEF airlifted additional critical PPE supplies from its global warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Seven holding units High Performance Tents provided by UNICEF have been set up in two health centres, two points of entry (PoEs) and three strategic screening points in Kagera to ensure suspected cases receive lifesaving treatment and strengthen infection prevention.
With UNICEF support, a comprehensive MVD information digital campaign across various social media platforms is reaching over 2.8 million people. Community mobilization is activated reaching 337 villages in 97 wards of Kagera. Community influencers including traditional healers, journalists, and health managers sensitized and mobilized.10 radio stations are broadcasting MVD awareness and prevention messages to Kagera and neighbouring regions. UNICEF's social listening tools actively monitoring and analysing misinformation on MVD.