Ethiopia ends its first Marburg outbreak after required monitoring period, with WHO support cited

End-of-outbreak declaration

Ethiopia says its first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak has ended, following completion of enhanced surveillance and the mandatory 42-day follow-up period with no new confirmed cases. Health officials consider the threshold significant because it spans two full incubation cycles used to verify that transmission has stopped.

Case totals and timeline

WHO’s Regional Office for Africa said the outbreak was first confirmed on November 14, 2025, in the South Ethiopia Region and was contained in under three months through a coordinated response. Reporting on the declaration cites 14 confirmed cases, including nine deaths and five recoveries, with authorities emphasizing continued vigilance even after the official end.

Public health measures that helped stop spread

WHO said it worked closely with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute to support response pillars including surveillance, laboratory services, case management, infection prevention and control, logistics, and community engagement. Those measures are typically critical for Marburg, which can spread through direct contact with bodily fluids and contaminated materials.

What it means for health systems

Ending an outbreak is not the same as ending risk: health agencies often maintain readiness for new alerts, strengthen infection-control training, and continue improving lab capacity. Ethiopia’s declaration highlights how sustained contact tracing, isolation practices, and community communication can contain high-risk viral hemorrhagic fevers when implemented rapidly.

• No new confirmed cases reported for 42 consecutive days.
• Outbreak first confirmed Nov. 14, 2025; declaration issued Jan. 26, 2026.
• WHO-backed response focused on surveillance, lab diagnostics, and infection control.