Ethiopia declares its first Marburg outbreak over after 42 days with no new cases
Ethiopia has declared the end of its first Marburg virus outbreak after completing the required 42-day period without any new confirmed infections. The outbreak began in November 2025 and resulted in 14 confirmed cases, including nine deaths and five recoveries, with additional deaths classified as possible cases, according to the WHO.
Outbreak declared over after mandatory monitoring period
Ethiopia on Monday, 26 January 2026, declared the end of its first outbreak of Marburg virus, marking a key milestone after weeks of heightened surveillance and follow-up. Health authorities announced the outbreak had been contained after the country completed the mandatory 42-day period with no new confirmed cases—an international benchmark used to confirm transmission has stopped.
The outbreak began in November 2025 in Ethiopia’s southern region bordering South Sudan. Authorities confirmed 14 cases in total, including nine deaths and five recoveries. The World Health Organization (WHO) also cited additional deaths classified as possible Marburg cases, indicating suspected infections that were not confirmed in the same way as laboratory-verified cases.
Health workers recognised among those infected
Among the people infected were health workers, underlining how quickly viral haemorrhagic fevers can threaten frontline staff when infection prevention measures are strained. The WHO said it provided technical support to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health in areas including surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, case management, infection prevention and control, coordination and logistics.
What Marburg is and why it worries officials
Marburg is a severe viral disease linked to fruit bats and can spread between people through close contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces such as bedding. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, diarrhoea and vomiting, and in some cases patients can die from extreme blood loss. There is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment, making rapid detection and strict infection control essential tools for containment.
For global health agencies, Ethiopia’s declaration is a positive sign of containment capacity, but also a reminder of how outbreaks can emerge suddenly and require rapid response. The closure of this episode may ease immediate pressure on local health systems, yet officials typically continue targeted monitoring to ensure no hidden chains of transmission remain.