Ethiopia declares Marburg outbreak over after 42 days with no new cases, WHO says

Outbreak declared over

Ethiopia has formally declared the end of its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease after meeting the standard public-health threshold of 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case. The announcement, dated January 26, 2026, closes a chapter that began when the outbreak was first confirmed in the country in mid-November 2025.

The World Health Organization said Ethiopia’s government reached the milestone after an intensified period of surveillance and follow-up designed to ensure that chains of transmission had been broken. Officials emphasized that the absence of new confirmed cases over the full follow-up period supports the conclusion that active spread has been stopped.

The human toll

During the outbreak, Ethiopia reported 14 confirmed cases, including nine deaths and five recoveries, according to WHO reporting. The outbreak affected multiple districts and required a rapid response that blended national leadership with support from international partners.

Health workers were among those infected, underscoring the dangers posed by viral hemorrhagic fevers in settings where frontline staff can be exposed during patient care. The episode also highlighted the importance of infection-prevention protocols and adequate protective equipment during outbreaks.

How the response worked

Authorities relied on classic containment tools: active case finding, isolation and supportive care for patients, extensive contact tracing, and expanded laboratory capacity to confirm suspected infections quickly. WHO described a coordinated effort spanning surveillance, lab work, case management, infection prevention and control, logistics, and community engagement.

Contacts were identified and monitored, and response teams deployed to affected areas to help stop transmission. WHO said it activated emergency mechanisms within 24 hours of confirmation and provided technical and operational support across multiple pillars of the response.

What Marburg is—and what comes next

Marburg is a severe viral hemorrhagic fever, and outbreaks can be difficult to control because infection can spread through close contact with bodily fluids and contaminated materials. The end-of-outbreak declaration does not eliminate the risk of future spillover events, so public-health officials typically stress continued readiness, including strengthened surveillance and rapid response capacity.

Ethiopia’s declaration marks a turning point, but health authorities and partners are expected to continue investing in preparedness, training, and early-warning systems to reduce the chance that a future cluster grows into a wider emergency.