United Republic of Tanzania News

Strengthening Emergency Care System in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam -Tanzania is currently facing a critical challenge with one of the highest road traffic death rates in sub-Saharan Africa, at 16 deaths per 100,000 people. Many of these fatalities and disabilities could be prevented with timely emergency care. However, the country faces critical gaps in its emergency response system, including a lack of structured coordination, absence of formal emergency medical services, and no centralized dispatch system.

WHO Strengthens Marburg Response and Cross-Border Collaboration in Tanzania

Biharamulo – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, is making significant strides in enhancing the nation’s response to the ongoing Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak. These efforts are not only focused on improving national preparedness but also on fostering regional cooperation with neighboring countries to prevent the further spread of this deadly disease.

Tanzania declares end of Marburg virus disease outbreak

Dar es Salaam – Tanzania today declared the end of Marburg virus disease outbreak after recording no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 January 2025.

The outbreak, in which two confirmed and eight probable cases were recorded (all deceased), was the second the country has experienced. Both this outbreak, which was declared on 20 January 2025, and the one in 2023 occurred in the north-eastern Kagera region.

Tanzania Confirms First Cases of Mpox Virus Disease

Dar es Salaam - Tanzania has confirmed its first two cases of Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox), following a laboratory report conducted on March 9th in Dar es Salaam. This marks the first time the disease has been reported in the country.

The government, with the support of the World Health Organization(WHO) and partners, has been reinforcing emergency preparedness with a focus on strengthening capacity to detect, confirm and respond to public health emergencies in recent times. 

WHO and UK Government Join Forces to Fight Marburg Outbreak in Tanzania

Dar es Salaam:  The World Health Organization (WHO) has received £200,000 in funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) to support efforts in fighting the ongoing Marburg outbreak in Tanzania. This collaboration will significantly enhance the continuing response to the outbreak in the Kagera region and strengthen preparedness efforts across 13 other high-risk regions in the country.

 

Dr Joseph Okwororo, rapid responder

Dr Joseph Okwororo has been a medical professional for 21 years. Specializing in epidemiology, he is the focal person for infection prevention and control (IPC) at Tanzania’s Ministry of Health. He has worked in many disease outbreak responses across the African region, including Ebola, mpox and Marburg.