South Sudan - Suspected Marburg virus disease (MVD) in 3 deaths - Investigations underway

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https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Communicable-disease-threats-report-week-3-2026.pdf

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Special Briefing on Mpox & other Health Emergencies || Jan. 15, 2026

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South Sudan : MVD Readiness (DREF Operation MDRSS018)

Format Appeal SourceIFRC Posted 12 Jan 2026 Originally published 12 Jan 2026 Origin View original

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• Download Report(PDF | 1.27 MB)

Description of the Event

Date when the trigger was met

23-12-2025

What happened, where and when?

On December 23, 2025, 3 suspected Marburg Virus Disease cases (deaths) were reported in Kapoeta East County in South Sudan, involving 2 people who had a previous travel to the affected areas in Ethiopia in November 2025, and 1 suspected case believed to be due to a possible community spread to a close family contact. Field investigations into these 3 probable cases are underway and a detailed report is expected from the South Sudan National MOH Rapid Response Team.

This trend with the request for support from MoH to South Sudan RC on 17 December mark a need for National Society to step in to strengthen the readiness. With the subsequent events. The SSRC engaged the national ministry of health and partners (WHO, Africa CDC, IGAD among others) at the national level to get an official letter calling for partners' support in MVD preparedness and readiness.

The Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak has been a relative risk for South Sudan since the rst case in Ethiopia on 14 November 2025 in Jinka, in the South Region of Ethiopia. As of the latest update, Ethiopia has documented a cumulative total of 14 confirmed MVD cases and 9 confirmed deaths (CFR OF 64%) and 5 recoveries. There has been a further spread of cases within Ethiopia from the epicenter in Jinka, to Hawassa in Sidama Region of Ethiopia.

With the events of 23 December, the risk of cross‑border transmission into South Sudan has further increased, with permanent risk factors such as the sustained population movement and trade links. The high incidence of the disease makes the outbreak a signicant risk for South Sudan. Marburg Virus Disease is a severe hemorrhagic fever characterized by sudden onset of high fever, headache, and malaise, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms and, in many cases, hemorrhage within one week of symptoms' onset. Case fatality rates in past outbreaks have ranged from 24% to 88%, depending on virus strain and quality of case management, and the current Ethiopian situation with a CFR of 64% is consistent with a high-severity event. Transmission occurs through direct contact with blood or other body fluids of infected people, contaminated surfaces or materials, and through unprotected contact with bodies during funerals, which makes household caregiving and traditional burials key drivers of spread in settings with limited IPC capacity.

https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-mvd-readiness-dref-operation-mdrss018

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See also:

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/africa/emerging-diseases-other-health-threats-ah/1023000-hemorrhagic-fever-outbreak-reported-in-south-ethiopia-marburg-virus-confirmed