Ethiopia declares end of its first Marburg virus outbreak after 42 days with no new cases

Outbreak declared over on January 26, 2026

Ethiopia has declared the end of its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak after completing the mandatory 42-day period with no new confirmed cases, health authorities announced Monday, January 26, 2026. The declaration follows intensive surveillance and response measures aimed at ensuring transmission had stopped.

The outbreak began in November 2025 in Ethiopia’s south. Officials reported 14 confirmed cases, including nine deaths and five recoveries, with additional deaths classified as possible cases in the broader investigation. The closure of the outbreak marks a significant milestone for a country confronting Marburg for the first time, and it highlights how strict monitoring standards are used before declaring an end to viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks.

WHO support and why the 42-day rule matters

The World Health Organization supported Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and public health institutions with technical help spanning surveillance, lab diagnostics, infection prevention and control, case management, logistics and coordination. The 42-day countdown is a key benchmark because it represents two incubation periods for Marburg, providing stronger confidence that hidden chains of transmission are no longer active.

Marburg is a highly lethal viral hemorrhagic fever linked to fruit bats, and it spreads between people through close contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and severe cases may involve life-threatening bleeding. Health agencies note there is currently no widely licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment, making early detection and infection control central to stopping outbreaks.

What ends—and what continues

Declaring the outbreak over does not mean surveillance ends. Public health officials typically maintain heightened monitoring, reinforce infection-control practices in healthcare settings, and continue community engagement so that any new suspected cases are rapidly isolated and tested.

For global health systems, Ethiopia’s experience is another example of the importance of rapid coordination, transparent reporting and sustained follow-up after the last confirmed case—especially for pathogens where a single missed transmission chain can reignite an outbreak.