Ethiopian health authorities have reported a rise in fatalities linked to the country’s ongoing Marburg virus outbreak, with six people now confirmed dead. The update, released through the state-run Ethiopian Press Agency, reflects new data from the Ministry of Health as officials intensify containment measures.
Ethiopia announced its first confirmed Marburg cases on November 14, marking the country’s first encounter with the highly infectious virus. Three deaths were initially reported within days of detection. The latest figures show that 11 individuals have so far tested positive for the disease, five of whom remain under medical care in isolation units specially prepared to manage viral haemorrhagic fevers.
According to the health ministry, 349 people identified as having possible contact with infected cases were placed under monitoring to prevent further spread. Of those, 119 have now completed the required surveillance period and have been cleared after showing no symptoms. Authorities say contact tracing efforts are continuing in communities where the virus was first detected.
Marburg virus disease, which belongs to the same family as Ebola, typically begins with sudden fever and severe headaches and can quickly progress to internal bleeding. The World Health Organization notes that fatality rates during past outbreaks in Africa have ranged from 24% to over 80%, depending on the strain and the speed of medical intervention. Most deaths occur within a week to nine days after symptoms begin.
Health officials in Ethiopia are working with regional partners and international health agencies to strengthen diagnostics, supply protective equipment to frontline workers, and inform local communities about symptoms and prevention. Experts warn that early detection, rapid isolation, and consistent public communication are critical to containing the outbreak before it spreads more widely
Source:Africa Publicity
