A research team from Sokoine University of Agriculture, led by Prof. Gerald Misinzo and Dr. Edson Kinimi, is conducting a study on the surveillance of viral epidemics within the Kagera River basin ecosystem. This project is funded by the Korea National Institute of Health and the goal of this project is to contribute to the global efforts towards reduction of viral haemorrhagic fever incidence and prevalence.
The Kagera River Basin Ecosystem represents an interface of the highest biodiversity and diverse agro-ecosystems of Africa covering four countries; Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania. On 21 March 2023, Tanzania confirmed the first-ever outbreak of MVD in Kagera.
Although Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) are natural reservoirs for Marburg virus and are found in the Kagera River Basin Ecosystem, no virological and serological studies have been undertaken in bats to determine the presence of Marburg virus and antibodies against Marburg virus in Tanzania.
