Ethiopia declares end of its first Marburg outbreak after 42 days with no new cases

Ethiopia on Monday, January 26, 2026, declared the end of its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease after completing 42 days with no new confirmed cases, meeting the standard threshold used for declaring an outbreak over. The announcement marks the close of a high-risk public health event involving a severe viral hemorrhagic fever related to Ebola.

The outbreak was first confirmed in mid-November 2025 in Ethiopia’s southern region near the border with South Sudan. Health authorities ultimately confirmed 14 cases, including nine deaths and five recoveries. The World Health Organization said additional deaths were considered possible cases, highlighting the difficulty of confirming every suspected infection during an outbreak, especially in areas with limited medical access.

The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa said Ethiopia’s outbreak was contained through a coordinated response led by the government and supported by WHO across key “pillars” of outbreak control. Those efforts included surveillance and contact tracing, laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention and control, clinical case management, logistics support, and risk communication to communities.

Marburg virus originates in fruit bats and can spread between people through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can include fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, and vomiting; severe cases can involve dangerous bleeding. Health authorities have repeatedly emphasized that prevention depends on rapid detection, isolation, infection-control practices, and strong community engagement.

Officials noted there is no licensed vaccine or approved specific treatment for Marburg, making containment strategies—early identification, protective equipment for healthcare workers, and monitoring of contacts—especially important. Ethiopia’s ability to go 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case indicates transmission has been interrupted, though continued vigilance is typically advised after an outbreak ends.

Public health takeaways

• The 42-day no-new-case threshold is a standard benchmark for declaring Marburg outbreaks over.
• Rapid surveillance, lab testing, and infection-control measures are crucial because no licensed vaccine or specific treatment exists.
• Community communication and trust can make the difference in tracing contacts and stopping spread.