Marburg Virus Epidemic Confirmed in Southern Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian health authorities have confirmed an outbreak of the highly dangerous Marburg virus in the southern region of the country, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced Saturday. This marks a concerning development as the virus, a relative of Ebola, carries a mortality rate of up to 90%.
The outbreak currently consists of at least nine confirmed cases, as reported by World Health Association (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday. The virus is transmitted to humans by certain species of bats and causes severe hemorrhagic fever, leading to notable health risks.
“The WHO is actively supporting Ethiopia in its efforts to contain the epidemic and treat infected people, and supports all initiatives aimed at preventing possible cross-border spread,” Tedros stated via X (formerly Twitter).
Currently, there are no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments specifically for Marburg virus disease. Medical care focuses on supportive treatment – maintaining hydration through oral or intravenous fluids – and managing individual symptoms to improve patient survival rates.
Health officials are prioritizing containment efforts to prevent the spread of the virus beyond Ethiopia’s borders. The situation remains fluid, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
