Ethiopia confirms first Marburg virus outbreak, nine cases reported

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed the country’s first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the South Ethiopia Region.

The announcement followed a laboratory testing that identified the virus in samples taken from a cluster of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases.

According to a statement released on Friday by the World Health Organization (WHO), genetic analysis conducted by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute shows that the detected virus strain matches those seen in previous outbreaks across East Africa.

Marburg virus disease is a highly severe and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus. It originates in fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.

Early symptoms include high fever, intense headache, muscle pain, and fatigue, with many patients experiencing severe bleeding within a week of symptom onset.

Although several promising treatments are currently in clinical trials, there are still no licensed therapies or vaccines for Marburg virus disease.

However, early supportive care including oral or intravenous rehydration and symptom-focused treatment, significantly improves the chances of survival.

In the African region, outbreaks and sporadic cases have previously been recorded in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

WHO reported that nine cases had so far been identified in the current outbreak, which has affected Jinka town in the South Ethiopia Region.

National health authorities are intensifying response efforts through community screening, isolation and treatment of confirmed cases, contact tracing, and public awareness campaigns.

Marburg virus belongs to the same family of viruses that cause Ebola, making rapid containment essential.

WHO and its partners are supporting the Ethiopian government by deploying experts in viral haemorrhagic fever response and providing medical supplies and equipment to help contain the outbreak.