Unguja. The Zanzibar Food and Drugs Authority (ZFDA) has issued a warning to business owners operating cold storage facilities who engage in dishonest practices, stating that it will not tolerate such behaviour.
The ZFDA is conducting inspections to identify and take necessary action against these activities.
Dr Thamrat Khamis Talib, the head of the livestock product inspections segment, made this statement while inspecting storage facilities in the Mjini Magharibi Region on Sunday.
He emphasised: “Many traders overlook the regulations and operate outside the law. Therefore, we are forced to carry out frequent inspections to stress the importance of compliance, as ZFDA is dissatisfied with the dishonesty shown by some traders.” During the inspections, the ZFDA discovered several companies violating regulations concerning the storage of meat, poultry, and fish products, and Dr Talib assured that appropriate action would be taken.
“ZFDA will not ignore any trader who disregards the regulations, and legal action will be initiated against anyone who defies these orders,” he added.
Dr Talib noted that past experiences indicate some traders neglect safety guidelines, which is why the ZFDA conducts regular inspections to prevent violations.
He urged traders to rectify the identified issues to ensure their products remain safe for consumers. He also highlighted that the purpose of the inspections is to ensure the safety of products during transportation to slaughterhouses and other consumers.
Additionally, he encouraged product handlers to maintain personal hygiene and undergo regular health checks to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.
“Handlers must undergo health checks every six months to identify infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis,” he stated.
One of the officials from the inspected companies, Ms Yusra Humud Mohammed, encouraged her fellow traders to adhere to ZFDA’s instructions to avoid complications during inspections.
A similar message was voiced by Bahati Issa Mbaga from Chura Company, who pledged to address the identified shortcomings to comply with the authority’s requirements.
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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
Source: allafrica.com
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