ETIDIOH - NEW

  {Excerpt} 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 Ethio...

  Abstract Marburg virus (MARV) is the primary cause of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a severe hemorrhagic fever with a high case-fatality rate. The first reported MVD outbreak in Tanzania occurred in 2023 , followed by a second outbreak in 2025 , both within the Kagera region . During those MVD outbreaks, 174 suspected cases were identified; of those, 10 were laboratory confirmed. After complete genome assembly and bioinformatic analyses, we found the MARV strains of the 2023 and 2025 outbreaks to be closely related and clustered with MARV strains that caused outbreaks in Rwanda (2024) and Uganda (2014). The sequences from both MVD outbreaks in Tanzania showed >99.71% nucleotide identity, suggesting a possible single spillover event followed by limited human-to-human virus transmission . Further ecologic studies are essential to identify potential spillover events, but our findings indicate that closely related MARV strains circulate in Kagera, Tanzania, posing a risk for future...

  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 furthe...

  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 supplie...

  {Excerpts} 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 ...

  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 sp...

  Abstract Background On September 27, 2024, Rwanda reported an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD), after a cluster of cases of viral hemorrhagic fever was detected at two urban hospitals. Methods We report key aspects of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment of MVD during this outbreak, as well as the overall response to the outbreak. We performed a retrospective epidemiologic and clinical analysis of data compiled across all pillars of the outbreak response and a case-series analysis to characterize clinical features, disease progression, and outcomes among patients who received supportive care and investigational therapeutic agents. Results Among the 6340 patients with suspected MVD who underwent testing, 66 had laboratory-confirmed MVD , 51 (77%) of whom were health care workers. The median estimated incubation period was 10 days (interquartile range, 8 to 13), and symptom onset occurred a median of 2 days (interquartile range, 1 to 3) before hospital ad...

Abstract In February 2023, the government of Equatorial Guinea declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease . We describe the response structure and epidemiologic characteristics , including case-patient demographics, clinical manifestations, risk factors , and the serial interval and timing of symptom onset, treatment seeking, and recovery or death . We identified 16 laboratory-confirmed and 23 probable cases of Marburg virus disease in 5 districts and noted several unlinked chains of transmission and a case-fatality ratio of 90% (35/39 cases). Transmission was concentrated in family clusters and healthcare settings . The median serial interval was 18.5 days ; most transmission occurred during late-stage disease . Rapid isolation of symptomatic case-patients is critical in preventing transmission and improving patient outcomes; community engagement and surveillance strengthening should be prioritized in emerging outbreaks. Further analysis of this outbreak and a One Health surveillan...

Abstract Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV) are zoonotic filoviruses that cause hemorrhagic fever in humans . Correlative data implicate bats as natural EBOV hosts , but neither a full-length genome nor an EBOV isolate has been found in any bats sampled. Here, we model filovirus infection in the Jamaican fruit bat (JFB), Artibeus jamaicensis, by inoculation with either EBOV or MARV through a combination of oral, intranasal, and subcutaneous routes . Infection with EBOV results in systemic virus replication and oral shedding of infectious virus. MARV replication is transient and does not shed. In vitro, JFB cells replicate EBOV more efficiently than MARV, and MARV infection induces innate antiviral responses that EBOV efficiently suppresses. Experiments using VSV pseudoparticles or replicating VSV expressing the EBOV or MARV glycoprotein demonstrate an advantage for EBOV entry and replication early , respectively, in JFB cells. Overall, this study describes filovirus species-sp...

Situation at a glance On 13 March 2025, the Ministry of Health of the United Republic of Tanzania 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 on 28 January 2025 and was given a safe and dignified burial, in accordance with WHO recommendations.  No new confirmed cases were reported since then.  The outbreak was declared on 20 January 2025 . As of 12 March 2025, two confirmed and eight probable cases were reported by the Ministry of Health from Biharamulo district in Kagera region. All 10 cases died (case fatality ratio 100%), including eight who died before the confirmation of the outbreak. A total of 272 contacts that were listed for monitoring completed their 21-day follow-up as of 10 February 2025. WHO, through its country office, and partners provided technical, operational and financial support to the government to contai...

 {Excerpt} Situation at a glance Since the declaration of the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak on 20 January 2025 in the United Republic of Tanzania, one additional confirmed death was reported by the Ministry of Health from the epicentre of the outbreak in Biharamulo district in Kagera region .  As of 10 February 2025, a cumulative of two confirmed and eight probable cases were reported by the Ministry of Health.  All 10 cases have died , including eight who died before the confirmation of the outbreak.  As of 10 February 2025, all 281 contacts that were listed and under monitoring have completed the 21-day follow-up.  The Ministry of Health developed a national response plan to guide activities. Additionally, a national rapid response team was deployed to the affected region to enhance outbreak investigation and response, with technical and operational support from WHO and health partners. Description of the situation Since the previous Disease Outbreak Ne...

Dodoma, 20 January 2025 – 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 negati...

Description of the situation Introduction On 13 January 2025, WHO informed its Member States and IHR State Parties of an outbreak of suspected Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the Kagera region of the United Republic of Tanzania using our secure web-based platform—the Event Information Site (EIS). Under the International Health Regulations, the EIS is used to issue rapid alerts to Member States of acute and rapidly developing public health risks and events with possible international implications. Summary of the situation On 10 January 2025, WHO received reliable reports from in-country sources regarding suspected cases of MVD in the Kagera region of the United Republic of Tanzania. Six people were reported to have been affected , five of whom had died . The cases presented with similar symptoms of headache, high fever, back pain, diarrhoea, haematemesis (vomiting with blood), malaise (body weakness) and, at a later stage of disease, external haemorrhage (bleeding from orifices). As of 1...

 {Summary} Situation at a glance On 20 December 2024, after two consecutive incubation periods (total of 42 days) since the second negative PCR test was conducted on 7 November for the last confirmed Marburg case, and without a new confirmed case reported , the Ministry of Health of Rwanda declared the end of the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak , as per the WHO recommendations.  The outbreak had been declared on 27 September 2024 .  As of 19 December 2024, 66 confirmed cases,15 deaths with a case fatality ratio ( CFR) of 23%, and 51 recovered cases have been reported.  The last confirmed case was reported on 30 October 2024 .  WHO through its country office and development partners provided technical and financial support to the government to contain this outbreak.  The risk of re-emergence of MVD still remains even after the official declaration of the end of the outbreak, linked to viral persistence in body fluids (mostly semen) of recovered patients...