The Government of Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) .
The declaration followed the completion of enhanced surveillance and the mandatory follow-up period, with no new confirmed cases reported for consecutive 42 days.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), in a statement on Monday, stated that the outbreak, first confirmed on Nov.14, 2025, in the South Ethiopia Region, was contained in less than three months through a swift, coordinated response led by the government and supported by WHO.
From the onset of the outbreak, WHO worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) to support response efforts at national and sub-national levels.
The WHO played a pivotal role in coordinating response operations and providing sustained technical and operational support across all response pillars, including leadership and coordination, surveillance, laboratory, case management, infection prevention and control, logistics and risk communication and community engagement.
A total of 14 confirmed cases were reported during the outbreak, including nine deaths and five recoveries.
There were five deaths that were probable cases. The outbreak affected four districts—Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in the Sidama Region—triggering the rapid activation and, scale-up of response measures.
These included active case detection, isolation and supportive care, comprehensive contact tracing, strengthened infection prevention and control in health facilities, and engagement with affected communities.
In total, 857 contacts were identified and monitored for 21 days.
Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Marburg virus. It is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.
Early supportive care improves survival.
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