Ethiopia Declares End of Marburg Virus Outbreak

Ethiopia has officially declared the end of the Marburg virus outbreak after forty two consecutive days without recording any new infections.

The announcement was confirmed by Ethiopian Parliament Speaker Tagesse Chafo along with Health Minister Mekdes Daba, who stated that the country is now free from the highly infectious Marburg virus, which is similar to Ebola. 

The outbreak resulted in the deaths of at least nine people.

Ethiopia first declared the Marburg outbreak in November 2025 after the initial case was detected in the Jinka area in the southern part of the country. 

Health authorities implemented strict surveillance and containment measures to prevent further spread of the disease.

The Marburg virus is a rare but severe haemorrhagic fever belonging to the same family as Ebola. 

It was first identified in 1967 in the German city of Marburg during an outbreak among laboratory workers who had contact with monkeys imported from Uganda.

The virus is primarily transmitted to humans through contact with bats and wild rodents. 

Human-to-human transmission can occur through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or contaminated medical equipment.

Transmission may also happen through handling infected animals such as monkeys or bats.

Symptoms typically appear between two and twenty-one days after exposure and include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. 

In severe cases patients may suffer internal and external bleeding, which can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

The fatality rate of the Marburg virus is extremely high, reaching up to eighty-eight per cent in some outbreaks, making it one of the most dangerous viral diseases known.

There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg virus infection. 

Medical care focuses on supportive treatment such as hydration, management of bleeding and treatment of secondary infections.

Prevention relies on avoiding contact with infected individuals and animals and strictly following public health safety measures.

Ethiopian authorities praised the efforts of healthcare workers and international partners for their role in containing the outbreak and preventing wider transmission.