TRACKING EMERGING VIRUSES – January 26, 2026 – Ebola
The outbreak, first confirmed on 14 November 2025 in the South Ethiopia Region, was contained in less than three months through a swift, coordinated response led by the government and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
From the onset of the outbreak, WHO worked in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) to support response efforts at national and sub-national levels. WHO Ethiopia played a pivotal role in coordinating response operations and providing sustained technical and operational support across all response pillars, including leadership and coordination, surveillance, laboratory, case management, infection prevention and control, logistics and risk communication and community engagement.
A total of 14 confirmed cases were reported during the outbreak, including nine deaths and five recoveries. There were five deaths that were probable cases. The outbreak affected four districts—Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in the Sidama Region—triggering the rapid activation and scale-up of response measures. These included active case detection, isolation and supportive care, comprehensive contact tracing, strengthened infection prevention and control in health facilities and engagement with affected communities.
In total, 857 contacts were identified and monitored for 21 days. Three health workers were infected during the outbreak; two died and one recovered, highlighting both the severity of Marburg virus disease and the critical importance of infection prevention and control measures.
WHO activated its emergency response mechanisms within 24 hours of outbreak confirmation in support of the government-led response. Within the same period, WHO deployed 36 experts to the affected areas and repurposed an additional 28 staff to reinforce field operations. The teams provided technical assistance across surveillance and contact tracing, laboratory diagnostics, case management, infection prevention and control, coordination and logistics.” (1)
1.Ethiopia declares end of first-ever Marburg virus disease outbreak, by Ulrich TeKuv, https://africa24tv.com/ethiopia-declares-end-of-first-ever-marburg-virus-disease-outbreak
curated by Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H.
Clinical Professor of Environmental Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai