DAR ES SALAAM -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday airlifted 1.4 tonnes of medical commodities and supplies to Tanzania to fight the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in the northwestern part of the country.

Tanzania faces a deadly Marburg virus outbreak claiming 8 lives in Kagera Learn about the virus containment efforts and Africa CDCs swift action to prevent its spread

Tanzania has pushed back against a report from the World Health Organization warning of a new Marburg virus outbreak in the country.

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzania's government said no-one in the country had tested positive for the Marburg virus after the World Health Organization (WHO) said at least eight people in the northwest were believed to have died from it.

“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'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.

Following reports of suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever in Tanzania, World Health Organization (WHO) has enhanced its readiness to support the government as it takes measures to investigate and respond swiftly to the situation.

Yesterday the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tanzania has 1 confirmed case of Marburg and 25 suspected cases all from the northwestern Kagera region. So far all 25 suspected case-patients have tested negative for the virus but remain under close surveillance.

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan confirmed on Monday that there was a new outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in the East African country.

An outbreak of the Marburg virus has killed nine people in Tanzania, Africa's health agency said Thursday, up from eight suspected deaths reported by the World Health Organization last week.

In a statement, Dr. Richard Dawood, an adviser to the African Travel & Tourism Association, said, "For the vast majority of tourist activities, the risk is virtually zero."

The U.S. plan to withdraw from the World Health Organization will squeeze Africa's health initiatives, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday, calling on African countries to find alternative sources of financing.