Ethiopia Fights First Marburg Virus Outbreak

Ethiopia is dealing with its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease. The government confirmed the outbreak on November 14, 2025. This dangerous virus has appeared in Jinka town in the South Ethiopia Region.

So far, nine people have gotten sick with the virus. Scientists tested samples from these patients and confirmed it was Marburg virus. The Ethiopia Public Health Institute did genetic tests. They found that the virus is similar to strains from other East African outbreaks.

Marburg virus is extremely dangerous. It belongs to the same family as Ebola. People who get infected develop high fever, severe headaches, muscle pain, and extreme tiredness. Many patients start bleeding badly within one week. The virus can kill between 25% and 80% of infected people.

The virus spreads from fruit bats to humans. It can also spread between people through contact with blood and other body fluids. The disease takes up to 21 days to appear after infection.

Currently, there is no approved vaccine or medicine to cure Marburg virus disease. However, doctors can help patients survive by giving them fluids and treating their symptoms. Early treatment is very important.

Ethiopian health workers are responding quickly. They are screening people in the community, isolating sick patients, and tracking everyone who had contact with them. The World Health Organization and other international partners have sent expert teams and medical supplies to help.

This outbreak is serious, but Ethiopia is not the first African country to face Marburg virus. Tanzania had an outbreak earlier this year that killed ten people. Rwanda dealt with its first outbreak in 2024, which caused fifteen deaths.

Health authorities are working hard to stop the virus from spreading to other parts of East Africa.