Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed the country’s first outbreak of Marburg virus disease after laboratory tests identified the virus in samples taken from a cluster of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases in the South Ethiopia Region.
The confirmation was announced in a statement released on Friday by the World Health Organization. According to WHO, genetic sequencing conducted by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute shows that the strain detected matches those responsible for previous outbreaks in several East African countries.
Marburg virus disease is a highly infectious and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus. It is typically transmitted to humans through contact with fruit bats and spreads from person to person through exposure to bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials. Early symptoms commonly include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and fatigue, with many patients developing severe bleeding within a week of onset.
Although several promising treatments and vaccines are currently undergoing clinical trials, none have been approved for widespread use. WHO emphasizes that early access to supportive care—such as oral or intravenous rehydration and symptom management—significantly improves survival outcomes.
Across Africa, previous Marburg outbreaks and isolated cases have been recorded in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.
WHO reported that nine cases have so far been identified in the current outbreak, which is centred in Jinka town, South Ethiopia Region. National authorities are intensifying their response efforts, including community-wide screening, case isolation, treatment, contact tracing, and public sensitisation campaigns. The agency noted that Marburg belongs to the same family of viruses responsible for Ebola, requiring a similar level of vigilance and preparedness.
WHO added that it is working closely with the Ethiopian government to contain the outbreak, deploying specialists in viral haemorrhagic fever response alongside essential medical supplies and equipment to support the ongoing emergency efforts.
