By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Ethiopia, 27 January 2026 Ethiopia has announced end of its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, with no new cases reported for 42 consecutive days, as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The outbreak, which was first confirmed in the South Ethiopia Region on November 14, 2025, resulted in 14 Marburg cases, including 9 deaths and 5 recoveries. The WHO report also revealed an additional five deaths linked to the virus.
WHO, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute worked together to combat the virus. Efforts focused on four severely affected districts: Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in the Sidama Region. Within 24 hours of confirming the outbreak, WHO mobilized 36 experts and reassigned 28 staff to assist the government’s efforts.
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Additionally, the Ethiopian government focused on tracing 857 contacts of the confirmed cases for 21 days. Despite these efforts, the virus caused significant health issues, with three health workers becoming infected, two of whom died.
WHO credited Ethiopia’s success in containing the outbreak to previous investments in public health infrastructure, including advanced laboratory capacity, disease surveillance systems, and a trained workforce that supported the rapid response.
Marburg is a deadly virus similar to Ebola, causing fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available. The virus has previously affected other African countries, but Ethiopia’s swift response serves as a model for other nations facing similar threats.
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