By benadeta mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, January 26 2026 - Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a rare, severe haemorrhagic fever, after a coordinated public health response successfully contained the spread.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the declaration on January 26, 2026, noting that no new cases have been detected for more than 42 consecutive days since the last confirmed case, meeting the internationally recognised criteria for ending an outbreak.
Ethiopia’s Marburg outbreak was first confirmed on 14 November 2025 in the South Ethiopia Region, specifically around Jinka and surrounding districts near the South Sudan border. The viral haemorrhagic fever, part of the same family as Ebola, caused 14 confirmed infections, of which nine people died, giving the outbreak a high fatality rate consistent with Marburg’s known severity.
The outbreak also affected other areas, including districts in the Sidama Region, and prompted an intensive contact tracing and surveillance effort. In total, 857 contacts were monitored for potential infection during the response.
The rapid containment of the virus reflected strong mobilisation by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and health partners, including WHO and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). Enhanced surveillance, active case detection, isolation of cases, infection prevention and control measures, and community engagement were central to the response.
WHO deployed specialists and emergency supplies to support laboratory diagnostics, case management and protective equipment distribution in affected areas. Officials reported no new cases during the required 42 day follow up period, a key threshold used globally to declare an end to viral outbreaks like Marburg or Ebola.
Marburg virus disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted from animals, particularly fruit bats, to humans and then between people through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. It causes high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and in many cases life threatening bleeding, with historically high case fatality rates.
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There are no licensed vaccines or specific treatments yet, making early detection, isolation and supportive care critical for control. The end of the outbreak is a major public health milestone for Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.
Marburg outbreaks are rare but can spread rapidly in settings with fragile health systems. The outbreak occurred near borders with South Sudan and Kenya, raising concern at the time about potential cross border transmission given frequent trade and population movement.
Containing the virus helped prevent regional spread and highlighted the importance of robust surveillance systems, cross border coordination, and rapid response capacity, all key in a region prone to recurrent infectious disease threats.
Ethiopia’s successful containment of its first Marburg virus outbreak, which caused nine confirmed deaths, shows that swift public health action, strong surveillance and international cooperation can stop even highly lethal diseases.
The end of the outbreak reinforces the need for continued investment in health emergency preparedness and response systems across East Africa and underscores the value of international partnerships in combating epidemic prone diseases.
