Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – November 16, 2025 – In a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in global health security, Ethiopia has confirmed its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a highly lethal hemorrhagic fever akin to Ebola, after nine cases were identified in the country's southern Jinka area. The announcement, made by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Saturday, underscores the rapid mobilization of national and international resources to contain what could become a regional crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has praised Ethiopia's swift and transparent response, deploying technical teams and essential supplies to bolster containment efforts amid fears of cross-border transmission to neighboring South Sudan.
The outbreak was first flagged on Thursday, November 13, when Ethiopian health authorities reported eight suspected cases of an unidentified viral hemorrhagic fever in the South Ethiopia Region, specifically in Jinka town within the Omo sub-region. This area, characterized by its remote terrain and proximity to international borders, poses unique logistical challenges for response teams. By Friday, laboratory tests conducted at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) – the country's national reference lab – confirmed the pathogen as Marburg virus through genetic sequencing. The strain identified shows genetic similarities to variants previously detected in East African outbreaks, highlighting the interconnected nature of viral threats across the continent.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, himself Ethiopian, commended the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) for its "rapid and transparent response," stating on X (formerly Twitter) that this demonstrates "the seriousness of the country’s commitment to bringing the outbreak under control quickly." Under Tedros's leadership, the WHO has activated its emergency protocols, dispatching an 11-member technical team comprising experts in surveillance, case investigation, laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention and control, clinical care, and coordination. This team arrived in Addis Ababa on Thursday and was immediately routed to Jinka to support on-the-ground operations.
In addition to human resources, the WHO is providing critical logistical aid. Shipments of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline health workers, infection-prevention supplies, and a rapidly deployable isolation tent have been airlifted to the affected region to enhance clinical management capacity. The agency has also allocated $300,000 from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to finance immediate needs, including community screening and contact tracing. "These measures are vital for protecting health workers, who are at the highest risk, and for isolating cases to break the chain of transmission," a WHO spokesperson emphasized in a statement released Friday.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya echoed these sentiments, lauding Ethiopia's transparency in reporting the initial cluster – a move that allowed for early intervention. In a statement issued Saturday, Africa CDC detailed its long-standing partnership with EPHI, which includes the provision of genome-sequencing equipment, PCR detection kits specific to Marburg, sequencing reagents, and training in biosafety and bioinformatics. This collaboration, bolstered by partners like the Global Fund, WHO, and the UK Health Security Agency, enabled the rapid confirmation within days. Africa CDC is now integrating Marburg response with ongoing mpox surveillance efforts to optimize resources and accelerate detection. Dr. Kaseya is scheduled to meet with Ethiopia's Health Minister to assess further needs, including cross-border preparedness with South Sudan.
The outbreak's location in Jinka, a town in the13 South Ethiopia Region bordering South Sudan, amplifies concerns about potential spillover. South Sudan's health system remains fragile, strained by ongoing conflict, displacement, and limited infrastructure – factors that could facilitate unchecked spread if the virus crosses the porous border. "South Sudan isn’t far and has a fragile health system," Dr. Kaseya warned on Thursday, urging heightened vigilance in border communities. No cases have been reported outside Ethiopia thus far, and no other African nation has detected Marburg in recent weeks, providing a narrow window for containment.
Marburg virus disease, caused by the Marburg marburgvirus in the Filoviridae family – the same as Ebola – is a rare but severe illness with fatality rates ranging from 24% to 88%, depending on the outbreak and access to care. First identified in 1967 during simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia – linked to imported African green monkeys – the virus is believed to originate in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), which serve as natural reservoirs. Human infections typically occur through prolonged exposure to bat-inhabited caves or mines, followed by person-to-person transmission via direct contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, vomit, or feces, or contaminated surfaces like bedsheets or medical equipment.
Symptoms emerge abruptly 2 to 21 days after exposure, starting with high fever, severe headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. Within days, patients develop a maculopapular rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and chest discomfort. In severe cases, hemorrhagic manifestations – including bleeding from the gums, nose, eyes, or gastrointestinal tract – lead to shock, multi-organ failure, and death, often from extreme blood loss or liver compromise. Unlike some viral fevers, Marburg can cause delirium and psychological symptoms, adding to the burden on caregivers.
Tragically, there is no licensed vaccine, antiviral treatment, or specific cure for MVD. Management relies on supportive care: oral or intravenous rehydration to combat fluid loss, treatment of secondary infections with antibiotics, and pain relief. Early intervention can improve survival odds significantly, but in resource-limited settings like rural Jinka, where health facilities may lack advanced capabilities, outcomes remain grim. Promising developments offer glimmers of hope, however. Clinical trials for candidate vaccines, including a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine (rVSV-ZEBOV-MARV), and monoclonal antibody therapies like mAb114 are underway, building on successes against Ebola. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and partners are accelerating these efforts, with phase II trials showing immunogenicity in healthy adults.
Ethiopia's response strategy mirrors lessons from past filovirus outbreaks. The FMoH has isolated all confirmed cases in designated facilities, initiating contact tracing for over 100 individuals who may have been exposed. Community-wide screenings are underway in Jinka and surrounding villages, with public awareness campaigns disseminated via radio, community leaders, and mobile teams to promote hygiene, safe burial practices, and early reporting of symptoms. The Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), another key partner strengthened by Africa CDC, is contributing genomic surveillance to monitor viral evolution.
This outbreak revives memories of recent Marburg incursions in East Africa. In 2023, Tanzania reported 10 cases with a 70% fatality rate, while Rwanda's 2024 epidemic claimed 15 lives before being declared over in months, thanks to robust vaccination trials. Broader historical context includes devastating epidemics in Angola (2004-2005, 227 deaths), the Democratic Republic of Congo (1998-2000, 123 cases), and Uganda (multiple sporadic outbreaks). These events exposed gaps in surveillance and underscore the need for sustained investment in Africa's health architecture, as advocated by the African Union's "Silencing the Guns" initiative and the WHO's African Regional Strategy for Epidemics and Pandemics.
Experts caution that while the current cluster appears contained, the 21-day incubation period means vigilance is paramount. Dr. Tedros reiterated on X: "WHO is actively supporting Ethiopia to contain the outbreak and treat infected people, and supporting all efforts to address the potential of cross-border spread." Regional bodies like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are coordinating alerts, and travelers to or from the area are advised to monitor for symptoms and adhere to hand hygiene protocols.
As Ethiopia battles this emerging threat, the global community watches closely. The outbreak tests not just national resilience but the continent's collective capacity to preempt pandemics. With climate change expanding bat habitats and human encroachment into wildlife areas, such zoonotic spillovers may become more frequent. For now, Ethiopia's proactive stance – from lab confirmation to international partnerships – offers a model for rapid response, potentially averting a wider crisis. Health officials urge calm but emphasize: early detection saves lives.
