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Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak Reported in South Ethiopia - Marburg virus confirmed - End of outbreak declared on January 26, 2026
On 14 November 2025, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) officially confirmed the country’s first Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak, following laboratory confirmation of the detection of Marburg virus (MARV) from specimens collected from viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) suspected cases by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) National Reference Laboratory. The outbreak occurred in the South Ethiopia Regional State, Jinka town in the South Omo Zone, near the border with South Sudan.
As of 15 December 2025, the Ethiopian MoH reported 14 laboratory-confirmed cases of MVD and nine (9) deaths in the South and Sidama region. The first MVD case in Hawassa, Sidama region, was reported on 27 November 2025, in an individual with a travel history to Jinka town. Six (6) of the deaths are amongst the laboratory-confirmed cases, while the other three deaths were reported among three epidemiologically linked cases, from whom laboratory tests were not conducted.
The MVD is a severe and often fatal viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the MARV, a member of the filovirus family that also includes the Ebola virus. The natural reservoir of the MARV is believed to be fruit bats of the genus Rousettus, which can carry the virus without showing symptoms. Human infection can occur through contact with infected bats or their environments, such as caves or mines. Once a human is infected, the virus spreads through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or tissues of infected individuals, as well as through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment.
The MVD is a severe and often fatal viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the MARV, a member of the filovirus family that also includes the Ebola virus. The natural reservoir of the MARV is believed to be fruit bats of the genus Rousettus, which can carry the virus without showing symptoms. Human infection can occur through contact with infected bats or their environments, such as caves or mines. Once a human is infected, the virus spreads through direct contact with blood, bodily fluids, or tissues of infected individuals, as well as through indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment.
The illness begins after an incubation period of two to 21 days, with early symptoms such as sudden fever, severe headache, malaise, and muscle pain. In severe cases, patients may experience profuse diarrhoea, bleeding from mucous membranes and injection sites, multi-organ dysfunction, and hypovolemic shock.
Current risk assessment and travel advice
No travel or trade restrictions with Ethiopia have been recommended. Travellers are advised to take precautions such as avoiding contact with sick individuals, avoiding caves or mines inhabited by bats, and avoiding contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Travellers are advised to consider obtaining travel and medical evacuation insurance. Travellers should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days following any potential exposure. Anyone who develops symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, rash, gastrointestinal illness, or unexplained bleeding should immediately isolate, avoid travel, and contact local health authorities or a healthcare facility in advance for guidance and a safe assessment.
As of 20 November 2025, the WHO conducted a risk assessment based on available information on the MVD outbreak in Ethiopia. The risk assessment considered the public health risk to be high at national level (within Ethiopia) due to factors such as the reported number of deaths; unsupervised burials reported amongst all deaths which poses a greater risk of community transmission; the confirmed cases includes healthcare workers, which highlight possible risk of exposure in the healthcare facility while attending to patients; as well as limited information available on sources, epidemiology and geographical spread of the outbreak.
Situation in South Africa
The risk of importation of the MVD cases into South Africa exists due to international travel networks (direct flights) between the two countries. Vigilance is vital given emerging outbreaks in the region. Healthcare workers should consider MVD in any patient presenting with unexplained acute febrile illness who has recently travelled to an affected area or had potential exposure. Rapid action is essential: isolate suspected cases, collect specimens safely, and report immediately to the relevant public health authority to initiate rapid response and to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for laboratory testing at the Centre for Emerging Zoonotic and Parasitic Diseases (CEZPD).
The NICD serves as the national reference centre for viral haemorrhagic fever testing, providing diagnostic capacity and expert guidance. Strict IPC measures, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), dedicated equipment, effective waste management, and environmental decontamination, are required when handling suspected or confirmed cases. Safe burial practices are also critical due to the high risk of transmission from deceased individuals.
Clinicians identifying a suspected case of MVD should contact the NICD Clinical Hotline (0800 212 552), a 24-hour service for healthcare professionals, to discuss laboratory testing and provide a detailed clinical, travel, and exposure history. Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) diseases, including MVD, are classified as Category 1 notifiable medical conditions (NMCs) in South Africa, and must be reported within 24 hours of clinical suspicion through the NMC notification system.
Overview On 14 November 2025, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) officially confirmed the country’s first Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak, following laboratory confirmation of the detection of Marburg virus (MARV) from specimens collected from viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) suspected cases by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) National Reference Laboratory. The outbreak occurred in […]
Ethiopia's Ministry of Health has reported 14 laboratory-confirmed illnesses, including nine deaths, from Marburg virus disease (Marburg) in the country's South and Sidama regions. Additional illnesses are under investigation.
Marburg is a rare but severe viral hemorrhagic fever, similar to Ebola, that can cause serious illness and death.
Currently, no cases of Marburg related to this outbreak have been reported outside of Ethiopia.
The risk of Marburg infection in the United States is low.
Current situation
In Ethiopia
On November 14, 2025, the Ethiopia Ministry of Health reported the country's first Marburg outbreak.
As of December 22, 2025, Ethiopia has reported laboratory-confirmed Marburg among 14 people, nine of whom have died. CDC is working with international partners to learn more details about the illnesses and will update this page as more information becomes available.
Efforts to trace those who had contact with the ill patients continue.
CDC continues to support Ethiopia's health officials as they respond to the outbreak.
Though Ethiopia hadn't had a reported outbreak of Marburg before, the type of bat that carries the virus is found in southern Ethiopia.
In countries neighboring Ethiopia
To date, there have been no reported Marburg illnesses related to this outbreak outside of Ethiopia.
CDC has operated an office in Ethiopia since 2001. CDC Ethiopia works closely with the government of Ethiopia and partner organizations to quickly detect, prevent, and control infectious disease outbreaks. CDC is providing technical support to the Ethiopia Ministry of Health during the Marburg outbreak, while continuing to address other global public health priorities.
CDC headquarters in Atlanta has deployed eight public health emergency responders to assist the CDC Ethiopia Office as it supports Ethiopia’s health officials in investigating and responding to the outbreak.
Among the activities that CDC staff support during outbreaks such as this are: strengthening tracking of illnesses, preventing spread of illness in the community, providing technical assistance for monitoring and supporting recovered patients, improving infection prevention and control in healthcare settings, strengthening laboratory testing, and assisting with ecology studies and lab development and testing efforts.
CDC is raising awareness of the outbreak with healthcare providers in the United States, including the potential for Marburg illnesses in travelers arriving in the United States from Ethiopia.
In Ethiopia and across the region, CDC continues to engage with its domestic and international public health partners and with other U.S. government agencies to support Ethiopia's response, share information, and to support readiness efforts in partner countries should Marburg spread across international borders. CDC and its partners across Africa work together to monitor disease, help ensure local laboratories can test for various diseases, train local laboratory and public health staff, investigate illnesses, and advise on how health workers can protect themselves while treating patients.
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Ethiopia declares end of first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak
26 January 2026
Addis Ababa—The Government of Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) following the completion of enhanced surveillance and the mandatory follow-up period, with no new confirmed cases reported for consecutive 42 days. The outbreak, first confirmed on 14 November 2025 in the South Ethiopia Region, was contained in less than three months through a swift, coordinated response led by the government and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
From the onset of the outbreak, WHO worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) to support response efforts at national and sub-national levels. WHO Ethiopia played a pivotal role in coordinating response operations and providing sustained technical and operational support across all response pillars, including leadership and coordination, surveillance, laboratory, case management, infection prevention and control, logistics and risk communication and community engagement.
A total of 14 confirmed cases were reported during the outbreak, including nine deaths and five recoveries. There were five deaths that were probable cases. The outbreak affected four districts—Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in the Sidama Region—triggering the rapid activation and scale-up of response measures. These included active case detection, isolation and supportive care, comprehensive contact tracing, strengthened infection prevention and control in health facilities and engagement with affected communities.
In total, 857 contacts were identified and monitored for 21 days. Three health workers were infected during the outbreak; two died and one recovered, highlighting both the severity of Marburg virus disease and the critical importance of infection prevention and control measures.
WHO activated its emergency response mechanisms within 24 hours of outbreak confirmation in support of the government-led response. Within the same period, WHO deployed 36 experts to the affected areas and repurposed an additional 28 staff to reinforce field operations. The teams provided technical assistance across surveillance and contact tracing, laboratory diagnostics, case management, infection prevention and control, coordination and logistics.
WHO also mobilized and delivered critical emergency supplies. These included laboratory testing supplies and equipment, viral haemorrhagic fever supplies, materials for the establishment and operation of treatment and isolation facilities and vehicles to support field mobility. These contributions enabled the rapid expansion of diagnostic capacity, strengthened patient care and supported effective outbreak control at the frontline. Ensuring the consistent application of standard Marburg virus disease response protocols was another core component of WHO’s support.
“The rapid containment of this outbreak reflects strong national leadership, effective coordination, and the dedication of frontline responders and communities,” said Honourable Dr Mekdes Daba, Minister of Health. “Sustaining preparedness remains essential to protect the population from future public health threats.”
The response was further enabled by Ethiopia’s prior investments in public health preparedness, including strengthened laboratory capacity, disease surveillance systems, a trained surge workforce and coordination through the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. These capacities, supported through initiatives such as the Ethiopian Pandemic Multi-Sectoral Prevention, Preparedness and Response Project and the AVoHC-SURGE program, allowed for early detection, the scale-up of diagnostics, the deployment of responders and the continuity of essential health services.
“WHO highly values the timely measures taken by the Ministry of Health and the Government of Ethiopia and remains committed to supporting national efforts to further strengthen capacities to prevent, detect and respond to future public health emergencies,” said Dr Francis Chisaka Kasolo, WHO Representative in Ethiopia. “Ethiopia’s response to the Marburg outbreak underscores the importance of sustained preparedness and effective coordination.”
National authorities and partners are implementing follow-up programmes to support Marburg survivors as part of recovery efforts and preparedness planning. After-action reviews are also underway to capture lessons learned and further strengthen readiness for future outbreaks.
“Preparedness saved time, and time saved lives,” said Dr Senait Tekeste Fekadu, WHO Incident Manager for the MVD response. “Ending this outbreak so quickly reflects a resilient health system strengthened through sustained capacity development, while reinforcing the need to continue investing in readiness.”
Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus. It is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials. Early supportive care improves survival. While no licensed vaccines or therapeutics are currently available, several candidates are undergoing clinical trials.
The Government of Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) following the completion of enhanced surveillance and the mandatory follow-up period, with no new confirmed cases reported for consecutive 42 days.
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