Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its Marburg virus outbreak after the disease claimed at least nine lives, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday.
The Horn of Africa nation first confirmed the outbreak on November 14, marking its first-ever encounter with the highly infectious viral disease, which is similar to Ebola.
In a statement shared on X, the WHO said: “Ethiopia has officially declared the end of its first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak following enhanced surveillance with no new confirmed cases.”
Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness that typically begins with intense headaches and fever before progressing to internal and external bleeding in many cases.
Past outbreaks across Africa have recorded fatality rates of up to 80 percent or more, with deaths often occurring within eight to nine days after the onset of symptoms.
Health authorities said the declaration followed a sustained period of monitoring and response efforts that ensured no new infections were detected.
The WHO commended Ethiopia’s surveillance and containment measures, noting that early detection and coordinated public health actions were key to stopping the spread of the virus.
