WHO says suspected outbreak of Marburg disease kills 8 in a remote part of Tanzania

The World Health Organization says an outbreak of suspected Marburg disease has killed eight people in a remote part of northern Tanzania. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement early Wednesday the group is aware of nine cases so far, including eight people who have died. He said he expects more cases to be found in the coming days. Like Ebola, the Marburg virus originates in fruit bats and spreads between people through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or with surfaces, such as contaminated bed sheets. The WHO said its risk assessment for the suspected outbreak in Tanzania was high at national and regional levels but low globally. There was no immediate comment from Tanzanian health authorities.