Marburg Virus Confirmed in Ethiopia, Sparking Urgent response
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopia has confirmed its first outbreak of Marburg virus disease, following laboratory tests that identified the cause of a recent cluster of suspected hemorrhagic fever cases. The World Health Institution (WHO) reports the detected strain is consistent with those seen in previous East African outbreaks.
As of today, nine cases have been identified in Ethiopia’s southern region, close to the border with South Sudan.Worryingly, the outbreak includes infections among healthcare workers, highlighting the virus’s rapid transmission potential. The WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have praised Ethiopian authorities for their swift action in identifying the virus and initiating emergency containment protocols.
Marburg virus, a highly perilous relative of Ebola, is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads to humans through contact with contaminated environments – often caves. Person-to-person transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces.
Initial symptoms include high fever,severe headache,and muscle pain. The disease can rapidly progress, with many patients developing severe internal or external bleeding within a week. Currently, there is no approved cure for Marburg, though experimental treatments have been utilized during past outbreaks under emergency authorization. Last year, during Rwanda’s first outbreak, antiviral drug remdesivir (provided by Gilead Sciences) was administered under compassionate-use protocols, and similar options might potentially be explored should Ethiopia’s case numbers increase.
Coordinated efforts are underway between Ethiopian and South Sudanese authorities to prevent the virus from crossing the border. However, both nations face significant hurdles due to already-strained healthcare systems, especially in South Sudan, where years of conflict have severely weakened infrastructure.
The WHO has responded by releasing $300,000 from its emergency fund, deploying a dedicated response team, and providing essential medical supplies, including protective equipment and an isolation tent. Health officials stress the critical importance of early supportive care, particularly maintaining hydration through intravenous or oral fluids, to improve patient survival rates.
