Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of the highly dangerous Marburg virus in its southern region, health authorities announced on Saturday. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported that at least nine cases have been detected so far.
The Marburg virus, closely related to Ebola, is known for causing severe fever, bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhoea, with an incubation period of up to 21 days. Fatality rates can range from 25% to 80%, and the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization and a native of Ethiopia, confirmed the outbreak on Friday. The National Reference Laboratory in Ethiopia has verified the cases, prompting swift containment measures in the Jinka area. Africa CDC stated that the strain shows similarities to those previously seen in East Africa.
“The Ethiopian authorities have acted quickly to confirm and control the outbreak,” Africa CDC said. The organization is collaborating with local health officials to prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the region.
Recent years have seen sporadic Marburg outbreaks in East Africa. Earlier this year, Tanzania reported an outbreak that claimed 10 lives, while Rwanda successfully contained an epidemic in late 2024 that resulted in 15 fatalities.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for Marburg virus disease, although supportive care such as rehydration and symptom management can improve survival chances. Experimental vaccines are under development, including trials in Rwanda by the US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely and urge communities to follow public health guidance to reduce transmission risks.
