WHO declares end to Ethiopia's first Marburg virus outbreak after 42 days without new cases

The World Health Organization announced on Monday that Ethiopia has officially ended its first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, with no new cases reported over the past 42 days. The outbreak, which was first confirmed on November 14, 2025, in the South Ethiopia Region, resulted in 14 confirmed infections, including nine fatalities and five recoveries, along with five additional probable deaths.

Swift and Coordinated Containment Response

WHO, in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Health Ministry and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, led a rapid response across four affected districts—Jinka, Malle, Arba Minch, and Hawassa. Within 24 hours of confirmation, WHO mobilized 36 experts and reassigned 28 staff to support government efforts. Contact tracing monitored 857 individuals over 21 days, while three healthcare workers were infected, two of whom died.

Foundation in Health System Preparedness

The successful containment was attributed to Ethiopia’s prior investments in public health infrastructure, including strengthened laboratory capacity, disease surveillance systems, a trained workforce, and coordinated operations through the Public Health Emergency Operations Center. Marburg virus, a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, currently has no licensed vaccine or specific treatment. The outbreak in Ethiopia followed recent cases in several other African nations, including Angola, Guinea, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania.