Over 100 contacts quarantined as health officials and international partners race to contain the deadly hemorrhagic virus.

Ethiopia has confirmed three deaths caused by the Marburg virus in the country’s south, prompting a rapid public-health response and growing fears of cross-border spread into neighbouring East African nations. The announcement was made on Monday by Health Minister Mekdes Daba, just days after federal authorities officially declared an outbreak in the Omo region, which directly borders South Sudan.

The confirmation marks Ethiopia’s first recorded fatalities from the highly lethal hemorrhagic disease since initial suspicion of cases emerged earlier in the week. An additional three deaths exhibiting Marburg-like symptoms are currently under investigation, officials said.

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More Than 100 Contacts Under Surveillance

Laboratory tests carried out by Ethiopia’s National Public Health Institute verified the presence of the Ebola-like Marburg virus in multiple samples. In response, health teams have isolated 129 individuals who were in direct contact with infected patients. These contacts are now under close medical monitoring for symptoms.

Neighbouring South Sudan, whose border communities are tightly interconnected with Ethiopia’s Omo region, has issued urgent public advisories warning residents to avoid contact with bodily fluids and to report any suspected symptoms immediately. The country’s fragile health system raises heightened concerns about its capacity to contain potential spillover.

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Symptoms and Early Spread

Marburg virus often begins suddenly with high fever, severe headache, intense muscle pain, and later progresses to vomiting and diarrhea. In severe cases, patients suffer extensive internal and external bleeding, including from the gums, nose, and gastrointestinal tract.

The outbreak was first detected last Wednesday in Jinka, after local officials received alerts about people exhibiting symptoms of hemorrhagic fever. Of the 17 suspected individuals tested at the onset of the investigation, nine infections were confirmed before the first deaths were officially reported.

Minister Daba explained that a multi-level emergency response system has been activated nationwide, with rapid response teams deployed to support containment efforts in the affected areas. She also confirmed that, at present, no symptomatic cases are receiving treatment, suggesting early detection may have helped slow immediate spread.

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Ethiopia Strengthens Local Testing and Emergency Systems

Unlike previous outbreaks in the region, Ethiopia now has in-country diagnostic capacity for Marburg virus at its national public health laboratory. This capability is expected to significantly reduce testing delays and improve response times, lessening reliance on international laboratories.

The Ministry of Health has launched a targeted public awareness campaign, distributing infographics in Amharic, establishing a national hotline for reporting suspected cases, and urging anyone with compatible symptoms to seek medical attention immediately.

International teams from both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have arrived in Ethiopia to assist with emergency containment, case tracking, and community education.

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A Highly Lethal Virus With a Troubling Regional Pattern

The Marburg virus is known for causing severe viral hemorrhagic fever, with an average fatality rate around 50 percent, though some past outbreaks have recorded up to 88 percent mortality, according to WHO data.

Health workers are at especially high risk, as infection typically spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or unprotected proximity to infected patients.

Ethiopia’s outbreak adds to a worrying sequence of hemorrhagic fever emergencies across East Africa:

• Tanzania reported an outbreak earlier this year that killed 10 people between January and March.
• Rwanda battled its first recorded Marburg outbreak last year, which resulted in 15 deaths and included the testing of an experimental vaccine.
• Several neighbouring states have recorded sporadic clusters of Ebola-like illnesses amid ongoing public-health challenges.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya expressed concern about a possible cross-border spread into South Sudan, emphasizing the vulnerability of its health infrastructure and the difficulty of maintaining effective surveillance along porous rural borders.