Ethiopia declares its first Marburg outbreak over after 42 days without new cases

Outbreak ends after required monitoring window

Ethiopia has declared the end of its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, announcing that the country completed 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case—the benchmark used by public-health officials to determine the outbreak has been contained. The outbreak began on November 14, 2025, in a southern area near the border with South Sudan and raised concerns about cross-border spread in a region with frequent population movement.

Health authorities reported 14 confirmed cases during the event, including nine deaths and five recoveries. Officials also recorded additional fatalities classified as “possible” Marburg cases, underlining the difficulty of confirming diagnoses in remote settings and during fast-moving outbreaks where patients may die before laboratory testing can be completed.

Health workers affected and response efforts

The outbreak affected healthcare personnel as well as community members, with several infections reported among health workers and fatalities among them. Public-health teams emphasized infection prevention and control measures inside clinics, expanded surveillance in surrounding districts, and case investigation efforts aimed at identifying contacts and interrupting transmission.

The World Health Organization supported Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health with technical assistance, including surveillance strengthening, laboratory and diagnostic support, and guidance on case management and infection-control practices. Officials described this as crucial for improving response speed and building local capacity to spot and isolate suspected cases quickly.

What Marburg is and why it’s watched closely

Marburg is a highly virulent hemorrhagic fever linked to exposure to fruit bats and spread through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can begin with fever and muscle pain and can progress to severe disease, including bleeding and shock in some patients. Health agencies stress that rapid isolation and careful protective procedures are essential because outbreaks can accelerate when hospitals lack strict infection-control measures.

Public-health officials said the end-of-outbreak declaration reflects sustained surveillance and contact follow-up, not just the disappearance of visible cases.

While Ethiopia’s outbreak has ended, health leaders cautioned that preparedness remains important because the risk of future spillovers persists in areas where humans come into contact with wildlife reservoirs. Continued training, supplies, and cross-border coordination were highlighted as priorities to ensure faster detection and containment should new cases appear.