Ethiopia declares its first Marburg outbreak over after 42 days with no new cases
Ethiopia said its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak has ended after meeting the 42-day requirement with no new confirmed infections. Health authorities and international partners credited surveillance, rapid response and community measures for stopping transmission.
Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease, closing a tense chapter that began late last year in the country’s south. The announcement came after authorities completed the required 42 consecutive days without any new confirmed cases, the benchmark used to verify that transmission has been halted.
The outbreak was first confirmed in November 2025 in an area near the South Sudan border. Officials reported 14 confirmed cases, including nine deaths, while five people recovered. Health authorities also referenced additional deaths that were considered possible Marburg infections as investigators worked to determine links to the outbreak.
Public health teams strengthened case detection and follow-up as the response evolved. That included expanding surveillance, improving laboratory testing, and reinforcing infection prevention and control practices in clinics and community settings—efforts aimed at breaking chains of transmission and preventing health facilities from becoming amplification points.
International partners supported the response with technical and operational assistance. Ethiopia’s health agencies worked alongside the World Health Organization on activities spanning surveillance and diagnostics to case management, logistics and risk communication, according to statements released with the declaration of the outbreak’s end.
Marburg is a viral hemorrhagic fever related to Ebola. It is associated with fruit bats and can spread between people through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Symptoms can include fever, intense weakness and gastrointestinal illness, and severe cases may involve bleeding and shock.
Officials cautioned that while the outbreak has ended, readiness remains essential. Health systems often keep enhanced monitoring in place after such events, both to catch any re-emergence quickly and to strengthen capacity for future outbreaks of high-consequence infectious diseases.