Tanzania is being cagey about suspected Ebola cases, WHO warns

Enlarge / Staff from South Sudan's Health Ministry pose with protective suits during a drill for Ebola preparedness conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO). (credit: Getty | Patrick Meinhardt)

The United Republic of Tanzania has been unforthcoming about several reports of suspected Ebola cases in the country, and the reports have been trickling in since September 10, the World Health Organization said in an unusual statement Saturday.

To date, the WHO said its disease surveillance programs have picked up unofficial reports of at least four cases of suspected Ebola virus disease in Tanzania, including one death, as well as an unidentified number of contacts being quarantined in "various sites in the country."

The official word from Tanzanian authorities is that there have been no cases of Ebola in the country and that it does not "have any suspected case admitted anywhere." However, the WHO says Tanzanian officials have been cagey about sharing information about the cases and have not said what the people involved were sickened with if it was not Ebola.

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