By Dawan Africa - Reporter
Ethiopia, 3 December 2025 - Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has announced that the country is free of any active Marburg virus cases for the first time since the outbreak was confirmed early last month.
According to the ministry’s latest report, all 179 laboratory samples tested negative.
In the Southern Ethiopia Region, where the outbreak was first detected on 14 November, the Regional Health Bureau confirmed the recovery of two young men who had been under medical monitoring, raising the total number of recorded recoveries to four. Regional Health Bureau head Endashaw Shibru said the two had been exposed to their father, who died from the virus, before showing symptoms and being traced for testing.
Official data shows that 667 people have been screened since the start of the outbreak, with 12 confirmed cases and eight deaths.
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As part of ongoing response efforts, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society donated protective equipment worth more than $32,000 (5m birr) to the regional health authorities. The support was provided in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as the South Omo and Ari branches, alongside government task forces working on awareness, surveillance, and logistical support.
The World Health Organization also renewed its commitment to supporting Ethiopia. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom stated that the organization will continue supplying protective gear for health workers and assisting efforts to ensure access to effective treatment.
Earlier, the Marburg Task Force in the Ari Zone had imposed a one-week movement restriction starting 29 November, as part of wider containment measures, in addition to forming a task force led by the zone’s chief administrator.
