Ethiopia Confirms Outbreak of Deadly Marburg Virus, an Ebola-like Illness

Ethiopia Confirms Outbreak of Deadly Marburg Virus, an Ebola-like Illness

London, UK – November 16, 2025

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is at the center of a new and worrying global health emergency following the confirmation of an outbreak of the deadly Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), a highly infectious Ebola-like illness. 

The Federal Ministry of Health and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) acknowledged the confirmation this weekend, reporting that at least nine cases have been identified in the South Ethiopia Region, near the border with South Sudan. 

This marks the first-ever outbreak of MVD in the country and has prompted urgent, high-level containment efforts due to the disease’s devastating fatality rate, which can reach as high as 88% in past outbreaks.

The confirmation came after health authorities in Jinka town, in the Southern Region, reported a cluster of patients exhibiting symptoms consistent with Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF). 

Laboratory tests conducted by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) quickly verified the presence of the Marburg virus, which belongs to the Filoviridae family—the same family as the Ebola virus. 

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the Ethiopian government for its “swift and transparent” response, which allowed for early confirmation and the immediate activation of national and international containment protocols.

Understanding the Deadly Threat

The Marburg virus disease is considered one of the deadliest known pathogens. It is a severe, acute viral haemorrhagic fever with symptoms that begin abruptly, including high fever, severe headache, and muscle aches. 

As the illness progresses, many patients develop severe gastrointestinal issues, followed by severe internal and external bleeding, organ failure, and shock. Death, if it occurs, typically happens around 8 to 9 days after the onset of symptoms, often preceded by extreme blood loss.

The virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats—specifically the Rousettus aegyptiacus species—and spreads among people through close, direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces and materials. 

This person-to-person transmission pathway means that healthcare workers and family members caring for the sick are at the highest risk of infection. 

Although both MVD and Ebola are highly similar in their clinical presentation and virulence, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific antiviral treatments for Marburg, limiting patient care to supportive measures like rehydration, electrolyte management, and symptomatic treatment.

The Containment Effort and Regional Risk

Ethiopia’s health authorities have immediately scaled up their response, focusing on the affected area of Jinka in the Omo region. All infected individuals have been placed in isolation and are receiving medical treatment. 

The response efforts involve robust measures, including:

Intensive Contact Tracing: 

Teams are working around the clock to trace and monitor anyone who may have been exposed to the confirmed cases.

Enhanced Surveillance: 

Community-wide screening is underway to detect and isolate new cases early.

Infection Prevention: 

Medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), have been deployed to bolster clinical care capacity.

Community Engagement: 

Extensive public awareness campaigns are being launched to educate the public on symptoms, transmission, and the need to seek immediate medical help.

The Africa CDC has expressed particular concern about the outbreak’s location in a region that borders South Sudan, a country with a famously fragile health system. 

The genetic analysis of the detected strain shows similarities to those previously identified in other East African countries, suggesting a common regional viral reservoir, likely the fruit bat populations that carry the virus.

International partners, including the WHO and the UK Health Security Agency, are collaborating with EPHI to strengthen genomic surveillance and diagnostic capabilities to manage and contain the crisis before it risks cross-border spread.

Headline Points

First Outbreak: 

Ethiopia confirmed its first-ever outbreak of the deadly Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), an Ebola-like illness, in its Southern Region.

Nine Cases Confirmed: 

At least nine cases were confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory in the outbreak affecting Jinka town.

High Fatality Rate: 

MVD is highly severe, with fatality rates in past outbreaks ranging up to 88%. There is no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available.

Transmission: 

The virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people.

Containment Launched:

Ethiopian authorities, supported by Africa CDC and WHO, have activated an urgent response, including isolation, contact tracing, and enhanced surveillance.