Ethiopia declares 1st-ever Marburg outbreak over in less than 3 months: WHO

By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ethiopia has officially ended its first Marburg virus outbreak, with no new cases reported for 42 days, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, after a swift response that contained the outbreak in under three months.

The outbreak, first confirmed on Nov. 14, 2025, in the South Ethiopia Region, saw 14 confirmed Marburg cases, including nine deaths and five recoveries, with an additional five probable deaths, a WHO statement said.

The WHO said it worked with Ethiopia’s Health Ministry and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute to lead a coordinated response across four affected districts, including Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in the Sidama Region.

Within 24 hours of the outbreak's confirmation, the WHO mobilized 36 experts and reassigned 28 staff to bolster the government-led response in affected areas.

It said 857 contacts were tracked for 21 days during the outbreak, while three health workers were infected, two of whom died.

According to the WHO, Ethiopia's response was bolstered by prior investments in public health preparedness, including enhanced laboratory capacity, disease surveillance systems, a trained workforce, and coordination through the Public Health Emergency Operations Center.

Marburg is a rare but deadly virus similar to Ebola that causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment as of yet.

It appeared in Ethiopia following outbreaks in other African countries such as Angola, Guinea, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.