Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its Marburg virus outbreak after weeks of intensive monitoring showed no new confirmed infections, the World Health Organization said on Monday.
The announcement brings an end to the country’s first recorded outbreak of the highly infectious disease, which claimed at least nine lives and prompted a swift national and international health response.
The World Health Organization said Ethiopia met the criteria required to declare the outbreak over after completing enhanced surveillance across affected regions.
“Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first ever Marburg virus disease outbreak following enhanced surveillance with no new confirmed cases,” the agency said in a public statement.
Health authorities conducted active case searches, contact tracing, and community monitoring for several weeks after the last confirmed infection. No additional cases were detected during that period, allowing officials to formally close the outbreak.
Ethiopia announced the outbreak on November 14 after laboratory confirmation of Marburg virus disease, marking the first time the virus had been detected in the country.
The cases occurred in the Horn of Africa nation, where public health teams moved quickly to isolate patients, trace contacts, and raise awareness in nearby communities. International partners supported Ethiopia’s response with laboratory testing, logistics, and medical expertise.
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Marburg virus belongs to the same family as Ebola and is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated surfaces. Outbreaks are often linked to exposure in caves or mines inhabited by fruit bats, which are considered natural hosts of the virus.
Marburg virus disease is known for its severity and rapid progression. Symptoms typically begin suddenly with fever, intense headache, and muscle pain, followed in severe cases by internal and external bleeding.
According to the World Health Organization, past outbreaks in Africa have recorded fatality rates reaching 80 percent or higher. Death often occurs within eight to nine days of symptom onset in untreated cases.
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Public health experts say early detection, isolation, and supportive medical care are critical to reducing fatalities and stopping transmission.
Although the outbreak has been declared over, Ethiopian health officials said surveillance efforts will continue as a precaution. Countries that experience outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers are advised to maintain readiness in case of renewed transmission.
The successful containment of the outbreak highlights growing regional capacity to respond to emerging infectious diseases, even as health systems remain under pressure from multiple challenges.