Addis Ababa—The Government of Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) following the completion of enhanced surveillance and the mandatory follow-up period, with no new confirmed cases reported for consecutive 42 days. Three health workers were infected during the outbreak; two died and one recovered, highlighting both the severity of Marburg virus disease and the critical importance of infection prevention and control measures. Ensuring the consistent application of standard Marburg virus disease response protocols was another core component of WHO’s support. “Sustaining preparedness remains essential to protect the population from future public health threats.”The response was further enabled by Ethiopia’s prior investments in public health preparedness, including strengthened laboratory capacity, disease surveillance systems, a trained surge workforce and coordination through the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. “Ethiopia’s response to the Marburg outbreak underscores the importance of sustained preparedness and effective coordination.”National authorities and partners are implementing follow-up programmes to support Marburg survivors as part of recovery efforts and preparedness planning.

Source: Ethiopian News January 26, 2026 14:51 UTC