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

A milestone after months of emergency response

Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak on January 26, 2026, after going 42 consecutive days with no new confirmed cases. The World Health Organization’s Africa office said the outbreak—first confirmed on November 14, 2025—was contained in less than three months through a coordinated government-led response supported by WHO.

During the outbreak, 14 confirmed cases were reported, including nine deaths and five recoveries, and WHO also noted additional deaths classified as probable cases. The outbreak affected multiple districts, prompting rapid activation of response measures including case detection, isolation, and contact monitoring.

What stopped transmission

WHO described a response built around surveillance, laboratory work, case management, infection prevention and control (IPC) in health facilities, logistics, and community engagement. Contact tracing was central: hundreds of contacts were identified and monitored through the incubation window, an approach designed to catch cases early and prevent onward spread.

Health-worker infections underscored the risks. WHO reported that three health workers were infected during the outbreak, highlighting the importance of IPC practices and protective equipment when caring for suspected viral hemorrhagic fever cases.

Why Marburg remains a global concern

Marburg is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever associated with fruit bats and can spread between people through close contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Outbreaks can accelerate quickly in healthcare settings or households without strict infection control. WHO emphasized that there is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment, so rapid detection, isolation, and supportive care remain the primary tools for control.

Ethiopia’s declaration does not mean risk is zero: public-health agencies typically maintain heightened surveillance even after an outbreak ends. But reaching the 42-day threshold signals that active transmission has been interrupted and that emergency response measures have achieved their immediate goal.