Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease, closing a public-health emergency that began in mid-November 2025 in the country’s southern region near the border with South Sudan. The declaration follows the completion of the mandatory 42-day period with no new confirmed cases—an internationally used benchmark that indicates transmission has likely been interrupted.
According to health authorities and international partners, the outbreak resulted in 14 confirmed cases, with nine deaths and five recoveries. Officials also tracked additional deaths that were treated as possible Marburg cases based on symptoms and exposure history, underlining the challenges of diagnosis and surveillance in remote areas during fast-moving outbreaks.
The World Health Organization said it supported Ethiopia’s response through technical assistance that included surveillance and contact tracing, laboratory diagnosis, case management, infection prevention and control, logistics, and community engagement. Such support is designed to help countries rapidly identify chains of transmission, safely isolate and care for patients, and protect healthcare workers from infection.
Marburg is a viral hemorrhagic fever related to Ebola. It can cause fever, severe weakness, gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, and in some cases life-threatening bleeding. The virus can spread through close contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials, including items like bedding. While outbreaks are typically sparked by spillover from fruit bats, sustained spread occurs from human-to-human transmission when infection control breaks down.
Public-health officials emphasized that ending an outbreak does not mean the risk disappears entirely. Continued vigilance—especially rapid testing, safe burial practices, and strong infection-control procedures in clinics—remains essential, because a single missed transmission chain can reignite spread. Ethiopia’s experience is being closely watched as an example of how quick detection, coordinated operations, and community cooperation can contain a high-fatality disease within months.
The declaration on January 26, 2026 comes as countries across Africa and global health partners continue to strengthen early-warning systems, laboratory capacity, and emergency logistics for hemorrhagic fevers. For Ethiopia, the end-of-outbreak announcement marks a milestone for its public-health system, but also a reminder that preparedness and sustained investment are critical to prevent future flare-ups or new introductions.