Daijiworld Media Network - Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, Nov 24: Ethiopia’s Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak has claimed five lives, the Ministry of Health reported, marking a 50% case fatality rate. The latest update confirmed two additional infections after laboratory testing of seven suspected cases, bringing the total number of cases to 10.

Authorities have conducted tests on 53 suspected cases so far, with five patients currently receiving treatment at healthcare facilities. The outbreak was first confirmed on November 14 in Jinka town, southern Ethiopia, following laboratory verification of a cluster of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever cases.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has mobilized coordinated efforts to prevent cross-border spread to neighboring countries, particularly South Sudan and Kenya. The agency stressed the importance of reinforcing regional readiness, enhancing information sharing, and strengthening surveillance along borders.

Marburg virus, closely related to Ebola, causes severe hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms such as high fever and intense headache typically appear within a week of exposure. According to the World Health Organization, the disease can have a fatality rate of up to 88%, though early and adequate care can lower this risk.

The virus was first identified in 1967 during simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany, and Belgrade, Serbia, linked to laboratory work using African green monkeys imported from Uganda. Since then, sporadic outbreaks have been reported across several African countries, including Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and more.

Ethiopia’s government and health agencies continue to implement emergency response measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.