Tanzania ’s president has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus disease (MVD), a highly infectious virus like Ebola that can be fatal in up to 88 per cent of cases without treatment.

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.

“We believe that, as Tanzania successfully controlled the outbreak two years ago, the country will manage to control this disease as well. WHO is providing $3 million to support control efforts and strengthen disease monitoring systems,” Dr Tedros said.

Tanzania has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease following the identification of a positive case in the north-western Kagera region. President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced it during a press briefing held in Tanzania's administrative capital, Dodoma, alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Tanzania’s health minister denied there was an outbreak in the country saying no one had tested positive for the viral infection