Ethiopia declares its first Marburg outbreak over after 42 days with no new cases

Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first Marburg virus outbreak, announcing that the country completed the required 42-day period without any new confirmed cases. Health authorities said the declaration follows intensified surveillance and follow-up measures designed to confirm that transmission had stopped.

The outbreak was first confirmed in mid-November 2025 in the country’s southern region. Officials reported 14 confirmed cases, including fatalities and recoveries, and said additional deaths were treated as possible Marburg cases. Several health workers were among those infected, highlighting the risk to frontline staff during outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Marburg is related to Ebola and can spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, or via contaminated materials and surfaces. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea, and in severe cases, fatal bleeding. Outbreak control typically relies on rapid identification, isolation, contact tracing, and strict infection-prevention practices.

International partners supported Ethiopia’s response with technical assistance, including help with laboratory diagnosis, clinical and infection-control guidance, and logistics. The response emphasized surveillance in affected areas and monitoring of contacts to ensure no hidden chains of transmission remained.

Health officials stressed that declaring an outbreak over does not end the need for preparedness. Countries that have experienced Marburg often use the post-outbreak period to strengthen early-warning systems, improve protective equipment supply chains, and reinforce training for clinicians and community health workers.