The Ethiopia Ministry of Health reported an additional confirmed Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) case today, bringing the outbreak total to 13. The death toll remains at eight.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD said today, “The government of Ethiopia is leading the response, and WHO is supporting as requested.
“We’re providing testing supplies and protective equipment for health workers, and deploying experts to support local authorities.”
Ethiopia’s first ever MVD outbreak began in mid-November.
MVD is a severe hemorrhagic fever caused by either of two closely related viruses, Marburg virus and Ravn virus, which are closely related to the Ebola viruses. MVD has a high case fatality rate, ranging from 24% to 88% from previous outbreaks The case fatality rate can be lowered with good and early patient care. The virus is initially transmitted to humans from fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) and then spreads among people through direct contact with bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or infected materials. Healthcare workers, caregivers, and individuals involved in burial practices are particularly at risk when infection prevention and control measures are not in place.
MVD symptoms typically begin abruptly after an incubation period of two to 21 days and include high fever, severe headache, malaise, muscle aches, and progressive gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. In severe cases, patients may experience bleeding from multiple sites and die from shock and organ failure within a week of symptom onset.
There are no approved treatment or vaccines for MVD, although supportive treatment and early supportive care improves survival. Some candidate vaccines and therapeutics are currently under investigation.
Nineteen outbreaks of MVD have previously been reported globally. The most recent outbreak was reported from the Republic of Tanzania between January and March 2025.
