Ethiopia declares end of Marburg outbreak that killed nine

Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak after recording no new cases for 42 consecutive days—double the virus’s maximum incubation period. The outbreak, which was first confirmed in mid-November 2025 in the South Ethiopia Region, resulted in 14 laboratory-confirmed cases and nine deaths, alongside five probable fatalities. Health Minister Mekdes Daba Feyssa credited the rapid containment to “strong national leadership” and the dedication of frontline responders. The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC praised the government’s swift implementation of contact tracing, which monitored over 850 individuals, and the deployment of mobile laboratories to high-risk areas like Jinka and Hawassa. While the immediate threat has subsided, health officials emphasized continued vigilance against the rare but deadly hemorrhagic fever, for which there is currently no licensed vaccine.

Credit : CGTN