Ethiopia on Monday, November 17, confirmed three deaths from the Marburg virus in the Omo region, following tests on 17 suspected cases. The government, which declared the outbreak on Friday, said there were no active infections but noted that preventive measures had been intensified. A joint team from the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has been deployed to support testing and containment efforts. South Sudan, which borders the affected area, issued a public health advisory on Sunday urging residents to avoid contact with bodily fluids and maintain strict hygiene, as its health system remains vulnerable.
Marburg, a haemorrhagic virus with a fatality rate of up to 88% without treatment, is transmitted through fruit bats and spreads between humans via bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Past outbreaks have been recorded in Rwanda, Tanzania, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Ghana. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, vomiting and severe bleeding, and there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.