On Monday, January 26, Ethiopia has officially declared an end to the Marburg virus disease outbreak, after recording no new cases for 42 consecutive days, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.
Health Minister Mekdes Daba announced the development in Addis Ababa, describing it as a major achievement for the country’s health system. The government also expressed condolences to families of victims of the outbreak.
Ethiopia confirmed the outbreak in Jinka town in southern Ethiopia on 14 November 2025 after laboratory tests linked a cluster of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases to the Marburg virus. According to the Ministry of Health, the outbreak resulted in 14 confirmed cases and nine deaths, while
five patients recovered.
The Marburg virus is a highly infectious pathogen that causes hemorrhagic fever, with symptoms such as high fever and severe headache typically appearing within a week of exposure, the WHO said.