The new outbreak of Marburg virus has been confirmed in Ethiopia. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has already verified 9 cases in the south of the country. This virus (comparable to ebola) is one of the deadliest viruses. It is incubated over a period of 21 days. The symptoms are severe bleeding, high fevers, severe vomiting, and diarrhoea, among others.
The virus is transmitted by contacts with body fluids and the virus is fatal with the rate ranging between 25 and 80 percent. On Friday, the cases were confirmed by WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who confirmed the outbreak after the National Reference Laboratory in Ethiopia confirmed the outbreak. According to Africa CDC, the strain was very similar to East African ones.
Health officials in Ethiopia were able to confirm and control the situation in the Jinka region. Africa CDC has committed itself to support Ethiopia to undertake on-the-ground measures to support the fight against the virus and reduce chances of its spread to other East African countries.
Ten individuals died during Tanzania Marburg outbreak in January of 2023. In December 2024, Rwanda experienced its first ever outbreak of Marburg that had claimed the lives of 15 people. The recent outbreaks of Marburg prove the current danger that the virus is threatening.
At the present moment, Marburg has no approved vaccine or antiviral drug to use. Benign support such as rehydration, orally or via the IV, enhance probability of survival. Last year, in Rwanda an experimental vaccine that was being tested by a US based Sabin Vaccine Institute.
The officials of Ethiopia are still carrying out epidemiological and lab investigations. Health authorities are keeping a tight check on the situation. It is still geared towards containing the virus and new cases.
