Ethiopian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the end of Ethiopia’s first-ever outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD).
Ethiopia has officially declared an end to the Marburg virus outbreak in the country after 42 days passed without recording a new case of the disease. The announcement marks a significant public health milestone for the East African nation, which has been battling the highly infectious pathogen since late last year.
According to Ethiopian Parliament Speaker Taqesi Chavo and Health Minister Meqdas Daba, the country is now free from the Marburg virus, which is similar to Ebola and claimed the lives of at least nine people during the outbreak. The declaration follows the World Health Organization’s standard protocol requiring 42 days—twice the maximum incubation period—without new infections before an outbreak can be considered over.
The outbreak was first confirmed on November 14,2025, in the South Ethiopia border Region, specifically around Jinka and surrounding districts near the South Sudan border. The outbreak affected four districts: Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopian Region, and Hawassa in the Sidama Region.
The response involved active case detention, isolation, supportive care, comprehensive contact tracing, and community engagement. WHO played a pivotal role in coordinating response operations and providing technical support.
The outbreak’s rapid containment was a testament to Ethiopia’s strong health system and the collaborative efforts of the government and international partners.
