Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in the south of the country, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) disclosed on Saturday.
The Marburg virus is among the deadliest known viruses. It has a 21-day incubation period, similar to Ebola, and produces severe bleeding, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
It is transmitted through bodily fluids, similar to Ebola, and has a death rate ranging from 25 to 80 percent.
The World Health Organization’s president, Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Friday that at least nine cases had been found in southern Ethiopia, two days after the Africa CDC was notified of a potential hemorrhagic virus in the region.
“Marburg virus disease (MVD) has been confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory (in Ethiopia),” Africa CDC said.
“Further epidemiological investigations and laboratory analyses are underway, and the virus strain detected shows similarities to those previously identified in East Africa.”
It stated that Ethiopian health officials had acted quickly to confirm and contain the outbreak in the Jinka region.
It stated that it would collaborate with Ethiopia to ensure an efficient response and lower the risk of the virus spreading to other countries of East Africa.
An outbreak of Marburg virus killed ten individuals in Tanzania in January before being contained in March.
Rwanda said in December 2024 that it had successfully eradicated its first known Marburg epidemic, which claimed 15 lives.
There is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for the Marburg virus; however, oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms can improve patients’ chances of survival.
