Ethiopia declares its first Marburg outbreak over after 42 days with no new confirmed cases

Outbreak ends after required monitoring period

Ethiopia has declared an end to its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak after completing 42 days with no new confirmed cases, the monitoring period typically used to assess whether transmission has stopped. Health authorities said enhanced surveillance and control measures helped bring the outbreak to a close.

The outbreak began in November 2025 in Ethiopia’s south, near the border region with South Sudan. Officials reported 14 confirmed cases during the event, including nine deaths and five recoveries, and described additional deaths as possible cases based on symptoms and epidemiological links.

Health workers affected, response supported by WHO

Among those infected were health workers, underscoring the risks of caring for patients with viral hemorrhagic fevers when infection prevention is difficult and resources are strained. The World Health Organization supported Ethiopia’s response with technical assistance that included surveillance, diagnostic capacity, case management guidance, and logistical support.

Marburg is a highly virulent disease in the same family as Ebola. It is typically associated with exposure to fruit bats and can spread through bodily fluids and contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include fever, severe weakness, vomiting and bleeding, and the disease can be fatal.

What the declaration means—and what remains

Declaring the outbreak over signals that sustained person-to-person transmission has been interrupted, but public health officials often caution that continued vigilance is needed. Countries may keep surveillance heightened, strengthen infection-control practices in health facilities, and review how early warning systems worked during the response.

There is currently no widely approved vaccine or specific treatment for Marburg, so prevention, rapid detection and supportive care remain central to reducing deaths and preventing future outbreaks.