Ethiopia declares the end of its first Marburg virus outbreak after 42 days with no new cases

Ethiopia has declared the end of its first Marburg virus outbreak, announcing the milestone on Monday, January 26, 2026, after meeting the standard requirement of 42 consecutive days with no new confirmed cases. The outbreak was first confirmed in mid-November 2025 and prompted an intensified national response focused on surveillance, isolation and community engagement.

Health authorities reported 14 confirmed cases during the outbreak, including nine deaths and five recoveries. Officials also tracked additional deaths classified as possible cases, underscoring the challenges of outbreak settings where testing and rapid access to care can vary by location.

The World Health Organization supported Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health with technical assistance spanning case detection, laboratory diagnostics, case management, infection prevention and control, and logistics. Contact tracing and monitoring were key components of the response, with health teams following exposed individuals for symptoms over the standard observation period.

Marburg is a viral hemorrhagic fever linked to fruit bats and can spread between people through close contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and in severe cases the illness can be fatal due to extreme blood loss.

Officials and international partners emphasized that ending an outbreak is a major step but not the end of risk, urging continued vigilance and stronger infection-control practices in health facilities. With no widely licensed vaccine or specific treatment, rapid detection, isolation, safe care and community trust remain central tools for preventing future spread.