There Is A Marburg Virus Outbreak In Ethiopia, Deadly Disease Similar To Ebola

Illustration of the marburg virus. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - The Ethiopian government confirmed an outbreak of the Marburg virus in the southern region of the country, according to a statement by the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The Marburg virus is known as one of the deadliest pathogens in the world. Symptoms are similar to Ebola, such as severe bleeding, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea with an incubation period of up to 21 days.

Transmission occurs through direct contact with body fluids and the death rate ranges from 25% to 80%.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is from Ethiopia, confirmed on Friday, November 14, 2025, that at least nine cases were found in southern Ethiopia.

This was conveyed two days after the African CDC received reports of suspected bloody viruses in the region.

"The disease caused by the Marburg virus (MVD) has been confirmed by Ethiopia's National Reference Laboratory," the CDC said on Saturday, November 15, 2025, quoted from The Guardian's website.

The agency added that epidemiological investigations and laboratory analysis are still ongoing. Types of viruses were found to show similarities to strains previously detected in East Africa.

Ethiopian health authorities are said to be moving quickly to ensure and contain the spread of the outbreak in the Jinka area. The African CDC is also committed to supporting Ethiopia in dealing with the outbreak and preventing the risk of spreading to other East African regions.

Previously, the Marburg outbreak in Tanzania killed 10 people in January before it was declared over in March. Rwanda also reported that it managed to overcome the country's first Marburg outbreak in December 2024 which caused 15 deaths.

So far, no vaccines or antiviral drugs have been approved to deal with the Marburg virus. However, reformation treatments, both oral and infusion and certain treatment of symptoms can increase the chances of patients surviving. Last year, Rwanda tested an experimental vaccine from the US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute.