The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a suspected outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the Kagera region of northwestern Tanzania, with nine people reportedly infected, of whom eight have died.

Lab tests identified one patient as being infected by the virus, Samia Suluhu Hassan says. The viral hemorrhagic fever has a fatality rate as high as 88%, and is from the same virus family as the one

Marburg virus is a close cousin of Ebola, causing similar symptoms and spreading in the same way. It can cause death in up to 88% of infected people.

Marburg virus is transmitted to humans through contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, or from fruit bats.

Tanzania's president has announced an outbreak of Marburg virus, an Ebola-like virus, just a week after her health minister denied that there were any cases in the country. President Samia Suluhu Hassan said at a press conference on Monday that health authorities had confirmed one case of Marburg in the north-western region of Kagera.

Officials previously questioned whether the deadly disease was indeed present in the African country, which had seen 8 suspected Marburg deaths.

Tanzania has confirmed a positive case of Marburg virus in a remote northern region. Marburg is a lethal pathogen, with a mortality rate of up to 88% in untreated cases. This virus, akin to Ebola, originates from fruit bats and transmits through close contact with infected individuals' bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.