Marburg Virus Outbreak: Ethiopia
Key Insights:
Ethiopia is facing its first confirmed outbreak of Marburg virus, with at least eight laboratory-confirmed cases and five deaths in the South Ethiopia Region. The outbreak occurs amid widespread strain on the national health system, due to concurrent epidemics of cholera, measles, and malaria, as well as conflict-related infrastructure damage. Kenya has activated border surveillance in response, highlighting regional concern over potential cross-border transmission. While early containment measures may limit spread, Ethiopia’s weak health capacity and porous borders increase the risk of wider regional dissemination if infections extend beyond Jinka.
Key 2025 Events:
November 24: Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health confirmed five deaths and ten suspected cases of Marburg virus.
November 24: Kenya’s Ministry of Health activated emergency response mechanisms due to the Marburg virus outbreak in Ethiopia, enhancing surveillance at border crossings and airports.
November 21: the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported eight laboratory confirmed Marburg virus cases in Ethiopia’s South Region, including four deaths
November 14: Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization, and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed the country’s first Marburg virus outbreak in Jinka town in the South Ethiopia Region, with nine reported cases.
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Analysis:
On November 14, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health confirmed the country’s first Marburg outbreak in Jinka after laboratory testing of suspected hemorrhagic fever cases. Several environmental and structural factors have shaped the Marburg risk. Fruit bats, which host and transmit Marburg, are present in southern Ethiopia. The country has the highest global rate of deforestation, removing bat habitats and increasing human–bat contact, which raises the likelihood of transmission.
The outbreak has emerged within a health system already under sustained pressure from conflict and chronic underinvestment. Ethiopia continues to attempt to manage simultaneous outbreaks of cholera, measles, malaria, and dengue. The cholera outbreak began in August 2022, and recurrent measles outbreaks have occurred since 2021, exemplifying the limited capability of Ethiopia’s healthcare system.
Conflict in regions including Tigray, Amhara, and western Oromia has damaged or destroyed health facilities, caused equipment losses, and reduced staff availability, limiting national healthcare capacity.
Restricted access to safe water and sanitation, particularly in areas affected by drought and flooding, sustains cholera and other diseases. These outbreaks compete for many of the same limited resources, including isolation wards, personal protective equipment, and medical professionals.
The outbreak’s location in the South Ethiopia Region, near the borders with South Sudan and Kenya, raises concern over cross-border transmission along trade and migration routes, although no linked cases have been reported outside Ethiopia to date.
Kenya’s activation of emergency response mechanisms prior to any infections within its borders underscores regional concern over potential viral spread.
Outlook
If an effective track-and-trace system as well as a rigorous infection prevention protocol in health facilities are implemented, the current Marburg outbreak is likely to remain contained within Jinka. Ethiopia’s health system remains underfunded and underequipped and has been unable to prevent widespread outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and measles, underscoring its limited capacity and capability. The heightened threat posed by the Marburg virus may prompt authorities to prioritize containment while infections and fatalities remain low. If the outbreak spreads beyond Jinka, there is a risk of cross-border transmission into neighboring countries including Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia.
We encourage organizations and individuals operating and traveling to Ethiopia to be mindful of the following considerations:
Monitor local security and health updates: Stay informed via trusted intelligence providers, embassies, U.N. agencies, NGOs, and official government advisories.
Plan secure travel and logistics: Use vetted transport providers.
Maintain contingency and evacuation plans: Ensure rapid relocation options for staff and volunteers, including secure communication channels with home offices or consulates.
Coordinate with local partners: NGOs and business operations should rely on trusted local contacts and security personnel for situational guidance.
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