Illinois Global Review

On January 26th this year, Ethiopia announced that it had eradicated the Marburg Virus within its borders. This was a momentous occasion for public health. Despite the instability in Ethiopia’s borders, the nation of almost 140 million people was able to coordinate a response with multiple NGOs, including the WHO and JSI, to rapidly deal with the problem.

What is Marburg?

The Marburg virus is an extremely severe and fatal disease that affects humans. Commonly found along the East African rift, the Marburg virus currently carries a 50% fatality rate, and there is no known treatment or cure. It is extremely similar to Ebola, and causes fever, organ failure, and bleeding from body orifices. It is typically spread through animal bites, but can also be transmitted through human fluids. The virus is rarely found outside of Africa, as in Africa there are large amounts of interaction with wild animals such as fruit bats and monkeys. The lack of sanitation means that if the disease enters drinking water it can spread rapidly.

What was the situation in Ethiopia?

Ethiopia is currently engaged in both domestic and international strife. While mainly located in the north of the country, the government is dealing with a rebellion in its Tigray region, further occupying both health and military resources which could have been used in containing the outbreak. Ethiopia’s resources were further strained by a military buildup along the border of its neighbor Eritrea, which is part of a year-long trend of escalating relations between the two East African states. Additionally, Ethiopia was dealing with the fallout from a natural disaster as a volcano, Hayli Gubbi, erupted, causing large amounts of economic damage. When the outbreak was announced many were worried if Ethiopia’s already strained and unstable government would be able to handle the spread of the infection.

Ethiopia’s Outbreak

On November 14th, 2025, suspected cases of hemorrhagic fever were detected in Southern Ethiopia, near the town of Jink. After testing was conducted in the capital, Ethiopia’s first case of Marburg was identified. Patient zero was an adult who reported vomiting and stomach pain since the 23rd of October. The disease was further detected in the neighboring state of Sidama. A total of fourteen persons were infected, nine of whom died.

The Response

Once the first case was detected in mid-November, numerous organizations instantly mobilized to treat the disease. The African CDC immediately shipped over 2000 PCR testing kits just two days later. Large amounts of protective equipment was sent to aid healthcare workers as well. The World Bank also assisted, securing Ethiopia a loan of over 150 million dollars for a new laboratory. Ethiopia’s public health agency, EPHI, was commended by numerous organizations for its swift and effective response and was designated an Africa CDC Regional Centre of Excellence.

Looking forward

Ethiopia’s quick response likely saved many lives, and while the fatality rate was higher than average, the unity of the government, health ministry, and non-governmental organizations achieved should serve as a model to other African nations who may face Marburg outbreaks in the future. Ethiopia will host the upcoming Conference of Public Health In Africa 2026 (CPHIA), which will focus on healthcare sovereignty in Africa. Ethiopia’s effective response will likely be a key topic at the conference.

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