#Marburg virus disease - #Ethiopia [End of the Outbreak] (#WHO, Jan. 26 '26)

 

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26 January 2026

Situation at a glance

On 26 January 2026, the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia declared the end of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak. 

This declaration came after two consecutive incubation periods (a total of 42 days) since the last person confirmed with MVD died and was given a safe and dignified burial, in accordance with WHO recommendations on 14 December 2025. 

As of 25 January 2026, a cumulative total of 19 cases, including 14 confirmed (including nine deaths) and five probable cases (all deaths), were reported. 

A total of 857 contacts listed for monitoring all had completed their 21-day follow-up as of 25 January 2026. 

WHO, through its country office and partners, provided technical, operational and financial support to the government to contain this outbreak.

Description of the situation

On 14 November 2025, after the laboratory confirmation of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) cases in Jinka town, South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia, the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia declared an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD). 

Molecular testing conducted by the National Reference Laboratory at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) identified Marburg virus (MARV) in patient samples. 

This was the first time Ethiopia was reporting a MVD outbreak.

The first known case was an adult from Jinka town who developed symptoms on 23 October. 

The patient presented to the General Hospital the following day with vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal cramps. 

As of 25 January 2026, a cumulative total of 14 confirmed cases, including nine deaths (Case Fatality Rate (CFR) 64.3%) and five probable cases, all of whom had died, were reported by the Ministry of Health from Jinka, Malle and Dasench woredas in South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in Sidama Region.

As of 25 January 2026, a total of 857 contacts were listed who completed 21 days of follow-up, 760 from the South Ethiopia Region and 97 from the Sidama Region. 

As of 5 January 2026, 3800 samples were tested for the virus.

On 26 January 2026, after two consecutive incubation periods (a total of 42 days), without a new confirmed case reported, after the last confirmed case died and was given a safe and dignified burial, on 14 December 2025, the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia declared the end of the MVD outbreak, as per WHO recommendations.

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Source: 

Link: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON592

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DREF #Operation: #Ethiopia #Marburg #Outbreak 2025 (MDRET039) (IFRC, Dec. 1 '25)

 

Description of the Event

Date when the trigger was met: 12-11-2025

What happened, where and when?

-- On 14 November 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), in collaboration with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), issued a press release declaring an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Region of Ethiopia. 

-- As of 26 November 2025, 78 laboratory tests have been conducted, of which twelve confirmed cases, including seven confirmed deaths, have been reported, three cases remain probable. 

-- Of the twelve confirmed cases, five are currently alive, three on treatment, and two discharged. 

-- More than 300 contacts have been identified and are under active follow-up. 

-- Given the high fatality potential and rapid transmissibility of Marburg, (MVD) an immediate and coordinated public health response is essential. 

- Early detection, isolation, contact tracing, and community sensitization are critical to prevent further spread by strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) in health facilities, ensuring the safety of health workers, mobilizing rapid response teams (RRTs), and effective risk communication are key priorities at this stage.

-- An urgent response is warranted due to the potential for rapid local and cross-regional transmission, and significant public health threat associated with hemorrhagic fevers. 

-- Delayed intervention could result in high morbidity and mortality, community panic and overburdening of the health system. 

-- Immediate action will help contain the outbreak source, interrupt transmission chains, and protect both the affected population and health workers while laboratory confirmation and epidemiological investigations continue.

Source: 

Link: https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/dref-operation-ethiopia-marburg-outbreak-2025-mdret039

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#Ethiopia, #Prevention and #Control Activities for the #Marburg Virus Disease Have Been Strengthened and Are Ongoing (MoH, Nov. 26 '25): 73 confirmed/probable/suspected cases so far

 

The Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) have released a press statement containing updated information regarding the Marburg virus disease.

They stated that laboratory tests have confirmed the occurrence of Marburg virus disease in the Southern Ethiopia Region. 

Up to now, 73 suspected individuals have been tested; among them, 6 patients have died due to the virus, as confirmed by the EPHI reference laboratory. Five additional patients are currently receiving treatment.

It was also noted that 349 people who had contact with the confirmed cases are under follow-up, and 119 of them have already completed their isolation period.

Dr. Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health, expressed condolences for those who lost their lives due to the virus and extended sympathy to their families, relatives, and friends.

She further explained that isolation centers have been established in affected areas, trained personnel are deployed, and essential medical supplies are being organized to provide strengthened medical care to patients. 

Additionally, Ethiopia is working with countries that previously experienced Marburg outbreaks to exchange expertise, learn from their experience, and access treatments and vaccines that have yielded positive results, ensuring they become available in the country for patients.

Dr. Mesay Hailu, Director of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, confirmed that isolation centers, medical services, and trained staff are prepared should new cases appear. 

He added that even in regions where no cases have been detected, preparedness activities are underway. 

Screening procedures have also been strengthened at airports, border points, and other entry/exit locations.

Anyone who shows symptoms of the disease is urged to report immediately to the nearest health facility or call the toll-free numbers 8335 or 952. These hotlines also provide additional information and counseling services about the disease.

Source: 

Link: https://www.moh.gov.et/marburg-response

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#Marburg virus disease - #Ethiopia (#WHO, D.O.N., Nov. 21 '25)

 

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Situation at a glance

On 12 November 2025, WHO noted a press release from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), announcing suspected viral hemorrhagic viral fever (VHF) in Jinka town, South Ethiopia Regional State, Ethiopia. 

On 14 November 2025, the Ministry of Health of Ethiopia confirmed that the cases previously reported as suspected VHF were Marburg virus disease (MVD). 

Molecular testing conducted by the National Reference Laboratory at EPHI identified Marburg virus (MARV) in patient samples. 

As of 20 November 2025, 33 laboratory tests have been conducted, of which six confirmed cases, including three deaths, have been reported. 

Of the six confirmed cases, three are currently alive and on treatment. 

In addition to the lab-confirmed cases, a further three epidemiologically linked cases could not be tested; all three are deceased and recorded as probable cases. 

A total of 206 contacts have been identified, and contacts are under active follow-up. 

The number of contacts will continue to change as the response evolves. 

The source of the infection has not yet been identified. 

This marks the first confirmed outbreak of MVD in the country. 

Initial investigation by the one health team in Ethiopia show the presence of the natural host of the virus, fruit bats, in the area. 

MVD is a severe, often fatal illness, transmitted from bats to humans, and clinically similar to Ebola virus diseases. 

The disease has a case fatality ratio of up to 88%, but it can be much lower with good and early patient care. 

Under the leadership of the MoH, WHO is working alongside the Ethiopian response teams to enhance coordination, surveillance (including outbreak investigation, contact tracing, and alert management), case management, infection prevention and control measures, laboratory capacity, risk communication and community engagement. 

WHO assesses the public health risk posed by the outbreak as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level and low at the global level. 

Ethiopia is facing concurrent emergencies and multiple disease outbreaks, including of cholera, measles, dengue, which results in stretched health capacity.

Description of the situation

As of 20 November 2025, 33 laboratory tests have been conducted, of which six confirmed cases, including three deaths, have been reported. Of the six confirmed cases, three are currently alive and on treatment. In addition to the lab-confirmed cases, a further three epidemiologically linked cases could not be tested; all three are deceased and recorded as probable cases. A total of 206 contacts have been identified, and contacts are under active follow-up. The number of contacts will continue to change as the response evolves.

Clinically, patients have presented with high-grade fever, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, and watery or bloody diarrhoea. Haemorrhagic manifestations, including nose bleeding and vomiting blood were observed in five cases, consistent with multi-organ failure.

As this is the first time Ethiopia is reporting MVD, WHO recommends that samples be shared with a reference laboratory for inter-laboratory comparison.

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WHO risk assessment

This is the first confirmed MVD outbreak in Ethiopia.  The public health risk posed by the MVD outbreak is assessed as high at the national level due to several concerning factors:

-- The outbreak involves six laboratory-confirmed cases; there have been a total of six deaths and there are three confirmed cases under treatment.

-- All deaths involved unsupervised burials, posing a risk of potential additional community transmission.

-- The presence of healthcare workers among the confirmed cases suggests potential occupational exposure risks within health facilities.

-- Although investigations are ongoing, information on the source of the outbreak, geographical extent and epidemiology is limited.

-- Although no international transmission has been confirmed to date, the potential risk for spread remains. The affected area, Jinka, while distant from Ethiopia’s capital or major international airports, is connected by road transportation networks, including to neighbouring Kenya and South Sudan. Therefore, the public health risk posed by this event is assessed as moderate at the regional level. It is considered low at the global level.

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Source: 

Link: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON585

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#Ethiopia confirms first #outbreak of #Marburg virus disease (#WHO AFRO, Nov. 15 '25)

 

14 November 2025

Addis Ababa—Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Ethiopia Region, the first of its kind in the country, following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected cases of viral haemorrhagic fever.

Genetic analysis by the Ethiopia Public Health Institute revealed that the virus is of the same strain as the one that has been reported in previous outbreaks in other countries in East Africa. 

A total of nine cases have been reported in the outbreak that has affected Jinka town in the South Ethiopia Region.

The national authorities are scaling up response including community-wide screening, isolation of cases, treatment, contact tracing and public awareness campaigns to curb the spread of the Marburg virus, which is in the same family of viruses that cause Ebola virus disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are supporting the government as it intensifies response to halt the spread of the virus and end the outbreak. A team of responders with expertise in viral haemorrhagic fever outbreak response has been deployed along with medical supplies and equipment.  

Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus. The disease is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads among people through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.

Initial symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Many patients develop severe bleeding within a week of onset. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed therapeutic or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to supportive treatment and care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.  

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, Tanzania and Uganda.

Source: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, https://www.afro.who.int/countries/ethiopia/news/ethiopia-confirms-first-outbreak-marburg-virus-disease

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#Africa #CDC #Statement on Suspected Viral #Haemorrhagic #Fever in Jinka, Southern Region, #Ethiopia (Nov. 14 '25)

 

13 November 2025, Addis Ababa – The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is closely monitoring reports of a suspected viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) in Jinka, Southern Region, Ethiopia.

On 12 November 2025, the Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI) notified Africa CDC of eight suspected cases, with clinical samples collected and submitted to the National Reference Laboratory for further testing. As investigations continue, no confirmed aetiology has yet been established.

From London where he was on official mission, the Director General of Africa CDC, H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya had a call the same day with the Ethiopian Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Mekdes Daba to congratulate her for early detection and the transparency that characterized Ethiopia when there is a public health event, and to extend the support from Africa CDC and the entire continent to quickly contain that.

During the Africa CDC Weekly Press Briefing on Health Emergencies held on 13 November 2025, H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, highlighted this event and briefed Member States on preliminary information and response readiness.

The Africa CDC in-country team continues to engage closely with national authorities and provide technical support. Africa CDC will continue working with the Government of Ethiopia and partners and will issue timely updates as more information becomes available and laboratory results are confirmed, and additional assistance will be mobilised as required

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Source: ReliefWeb, https://reliefweb.int/report/ethiopia/africa-cdc-statement-suspected-viral-haemorrhagic-fever-jinka-southern-region-ethiopia

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