Three Dead in Ethiopia as Marburg Virus Outbreak Sparks Regional Alert
Authorities race to contain deadly haemorrhagic virus as cases emerge near South Sudan border
- Ethiopia confirms three deaths from the Marburg virus, with three more suspected cases under investigation.
- Health officials isolate 129 contacts as containment efforts intensify in the Omo region near the South Sudan border.
- Government activates emergency response centres and deploys rapid response teams to halt further spread of the deadly virus.
Ethiopian health authorities have confirmed three deaths from the Marburg virus in the country’s south, intensifying efforts to prevent the deadly haemorrhagic disease from spreading across borders.
Health Minister Mekdes Daba announced the confirmation on Monday, following the government’s declaration of an outbreak last week in the Omo region, which shares a border with South Sudan.
State media reports indicate that laboratory tests verified the three Marburg-related deaths. Another three fatalities presenting symptoms consistent with the virus are still being examined.
The swift rise in suspected cases has prompted urgent regional responses. Ethiopia has placed 129 individuals who had contact with confirmed patients under isolation and close monitoring. South Sudan, meanwhile, has issued warnings to residents in border counties to avoid any contact with bodily fluids and to remain vigilant for symptoms.
Early signs of Marburg infection include high fever, severe headaches and muscle pain, with patients in advanced stages experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
The outbreak was first detected on Wednesday in the Jinka area, after alerts about a possible haemorrhagic illness. Samples from 17 people were tested, revealing at least nine infections prior to confirmation of the initial deaths.
Minister Daba said the government is mounting a coordinated national effort to bring the situation under control, activating emergency response centres and deploying rapid response teams to affected communities.
