Ethiopia has confirmed an Ethiopia Marburg outbreak in the south of the country after laboratory tests identified nine cases on Nov. 14. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced the confirmation on Nov. 15, saying health officials are conducting further investigations in the affected region as the Ethiopia Marburg outbreak evolves.
Marburg virus disease is a severe haemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola. It spreads through contact with infected body fluids and has a fatality rate that can reach 80%. The infection typically incubates for up to 21 days before symptoms appear, raising concerns about how quickly the Ethiopia Marburg outbreak could spread if not contained.
Confirmation and Early Response
World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that Ethiopian authorities detected the initial cases in the southern Jinka area. Africa CDC said the country’s National Reference Laboratory confirmed the virus after the agency was alerted to a suspected haemorrhagic illness earlier in the week.
Africa CDC said the virus strain identified in Ethiopia shows similarities to strains previously found in east Africa. It added that public health teams in the Jinka area acted quickly to isolate suspected cases, trace contacts and establish containment measures.
Regional Preparedness Efforts
Africa CDC said it will support Ethiopia in coordinating the response and reducing the risk of the virus spreading to neighbouring areas. The agency also noted that rapid action remains critical in regions where cross-border movement is frequent.
The outbreak in Ethiopia follows several recent Marburg incidents in east Africa. A Marburg epidemic in Tanzania killed 10 people in January and ended in March. Rwanda reported its first known epidemic in December 2024, which resulted in 15 deaths before the outbreak was contained.
Treatment, Research and Next Steps
There is no approved vaccine or antiviral medication for Marburg virus disease. Health agencies advise oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of symptoms to improve survival rates.
In 2024, Rwanda conducted a trial of an experimental vaccine developed by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the United States. Health officials have not yet indicated whether similar trials will be considered in Ethiopia as part of the current Ethiopia Marburg outbreak response.
Africa CDC said laboratory analysis, field investigations and monitoring in the Jinka area will continue in the coming days. It urged communities to follow guidance from local health authorities as efforts to contain the outbreak expand.
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