TFELTP Activities Conducted in March 2025: Cohort 17 Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak Response – Active Case Search and Mortality Data Review

In response to the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak declared on January 20, 2025, in Biharamulo District, Kagera Region, five Cohort 17 residents were deployed to support the outbreak investigation through active case search and mortality data review. In total, 31 TFELTP graduates across all program tiers contributed to the response efforts.  From February 6 to March 10, 2025, residents reviewed 4,297 patient records across 13 health facilities and analyzed 244 deaths across four facilities with mortuaries. Their efforts confirmed that no new MVD cases had emerged beyond the initial 10, with the outbreak successfully contained by January 28. The investigation revealed a higher prevalence of VHF-like symptoms among under-five children and males. In addition, 32 healthcare and community health workers were trained on MVD case definitions and alert detection protocols, enhancing local capacity for early detection & response. While 18% of reviewed deaths presented VHF-like symptoms, most were attributed to malaria and pneumonia, and the absence of lab confirmation for some suspected cases underscored critical diagnostic gaps. This deployment demonstrated the vital role of residents in strengthening outbreak response, surveillance, and preparedness in high-risk settings.

National Field Placement

In March, Cohort 17 residents continued their national field placements, a crucial component of the program that allows them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world public health settings. This hands-on experience enables residents to actively contribute to public health decision-making processes. During this period, residents conducted evaluations of various surveillance systems at their respective field sites and presented their findings on the 19th and 20th of March.

A total of 35 residents showcased their evaluations, addressing a wide range of public health priorities relevant to Tanzania and beyond. Several residents focused on components of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system, using case studies on priority diseases such as bacterial meningitis, COVID-19, typhoid, cholera, dengue, measles, influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV. Others evaluated additional programmatic areas, including cervical cancer prevention and control (CECAP), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and HIV self-testing (HIVST)

Vector-borne and parasitic diseases were well-represented, with evaluations on malaria case notifications, urban malaria surveillance, and surveillance for schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and trachoma. Additionally, several residents evaluated systems related to vaccine-preventable diseases, including rotavirus and adverse events following immunization (AEFI), as well as maternal and child health programs like antenatal care and insecticide-treated net (ITN) distribution.

Cross-cutting themes included the integration of health information systems, the use of innovative platforms such as Afya Msafiri, and the implementation of digital surveillance solutions in Zanzibar. The breadth and diversity of topics reflect the residents’ deep engagement with pressing public health issues and their commitment to enhancing surveillance system performance at both national and sub-national levels.

Below are photos of residents collecting data during their evaluations.