Trendpills
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health has confirmed the nation's first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease, with the announcement made on November 14, 2025. The initial cluster of cases was identified in Jinka, a town within the South Ethiopia Region, marking the first time the deadly pathogen has been detected in the country.
The confirmation came after samples tested positive at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute's National Reference Laboratory. According to initial reports cited by Al Jazeera, at least nine cases have been identified. International health organizations are swiftly responding to the situation, with both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) mobilizing support.
Marburg is a highly virulent disease that causes hemorrhagic fever and has a high fatality rate. It belongs to the same filovirus family as Ebola. The virus is known to spread to humans from fruit bats and is transmitted between people through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals, as well as with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and vomiting, which can quickly progress to severe hemorrhagic manifestations.
In response to the outbreak, Ethiopian health authorities, in collaboration with international partners, have activated emergency measures. These include enhanced surveillance, case isolation, and comprehensive contact tracing to curb further transmission. The Africa CDC has affirmed its commitment to managing the outbreak, deploying resources and expertise to the affected region. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Ethiopian officials for their transparency and the rapid implementation of control measures, stressing the importance of a swift response to contain the deadly virus.
