9 instances reported in Ethiopia’s Omo area, bordering conflict-wracked South Sudan, which has a fragile well being system.
Revealed On 14 Nov 2025
Ethiopia has confirmed its first outbreak of Marburg virus illness, after 9 instances have been reported within the south of the nation.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-Basic Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday recommended the Ethiopian Well being Ministry and different well being companies for his or her “speedy and clear response to the outbreak”.
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“This quick motion demonstrates the seriousness of the nation’s dedication to bringing the outbreak underneath management shortly,” Tedros wrote in a social media publish.
The affirmation comes a day after the WHO mentioned Ethiopian well being authorities have been investigating after “suspected instances of viral hemorrhagic fever” have been reported.
Marburg is from the identical household as Ebola, specifically the Filoviridae household (filovirus) of viruses. It has been described as extra extreme than Ebola.
The USA-based Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) describes it as a “uncommon however extreme” hemorrhagic fever that may be lethal.
Originating in Egyptian fruit bats, it may well unfold between folks when somebody comes into contact with the bodily fluids of an contaminated individual, or objects contaminated with their fluids, resembling clothes or bedsheets.
Signs embrace fever, rash and extreme bleeding, and there’s no remedy or vaccine for Marburg, in response to the CDC. As a substitute, it says that “remedy is restricted to supportive care”, together with relaxation and hydration.
The outbreak in Ethiopia was reported within the nation’s southern area of Omo, which borders South Sudan.
Africa CDC Director-Basic Jean Kaseya mentioned on Thursday that the outbreak was a priority as a result of “South Sudan isn’t far and has a fragile well being system”.
No different African nation has reported Marburg virus instances in current weeks.
Tedros, the WHO chief, mentioned on Friday that the UN company was “actively supporting Ethiopia to include the outbreak and deal with contaminated folks, and supporting all efforts to handle the potential of cross-border unfold”.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Well being additionally mentioned that community-wide screenings have been being carried out in relation to the outbreak, alongside efforts to boost consciousness.
Contaminated folks have been remoted and are being handled, it mentioned in an announcement shared on social media, whereas work to determine anybody who could have come into contact with suspected instances was additionally underneath manner.
The ministry urged folks to not panic, to comply with directions from the well being authorities, and to hunt medical care in the event that they exhibit any indicators of the illness.
