Tanzania is investigating a deadly outbreak of a mysterious disease that infected over a dozen individuals.
A strange disease has begun circulating in southern Tanzania. The disease has infected thirteen people and killed at least three of them. The cases reported have all been from the Mbekenyera village in the East African nation’s Lindi region. The initial case was reported on July 5th, and the second was reported within a few days. The patients have been experiencing symptoms similar to Ebola and Marburg virus diseases which include fever, headache, fatigue, and bleeding, especially from the nose.
On Wednesday, Tanzania’s chief medical officer, Dr. Aifelo Sichalwe, urged the public to “remain calm.” Sichalwe says that the patients have tested negative for Covid-19, and the possibility of other diseases has been ruled out.
Even though two of the thirteen patients have recovered from the disease, five remain in isolation.
The Tanzanian Ministry of Health is currently investigating the outbreak and is taking precautions to prevent future spreading. The team is conducting contact tracing to identify people with similar symptoms and isolate them. Anyone who has had contact with confirmed is being monitored for 21 days.
