Ethiopia is now facing one of the most dangerous viral threats known to modern medicine, as the Marburg virus continues to spread in parts of the country. With six confirmed deaths and dozens of suspected infections, the situation is rapidly becoming a critical test for an already overstretched health system grappling with multiple parallel outbreaks. The Ethiopian Ministry of Health’s latest statement on November 26 underscores the seriousness of the situation: laboratory tests have been conducted on 73 suspected cases, five patients remain under treatment, and hundreds of contacts remain under observation.

Marburg virus disease, a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever with similarities to Ebola, has long been feared for its rapid transmission, high fatality rate, and devastating symptoms. In Ethiopia, its arrival marks the country’s first confirmed confrontation with the virus. It presents a new layer of danger atop existing health challenges that continue to weaken national response capacity.

According to the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), 349 individuals who had contact with confirmed or suspected patients have been identified. Of those, 119 have completed their monitoring period without showing symptoms, but the remaining contacts still represent potential future cases. Public-health authorities have moved to isolate suspected patients, trace contacts, and implement emergency protocols in affected communities.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) officially confirmed the outbreak on November 15, following laboratory detection of the virus in Ethiopia’s southern region. For a country that has already been battling cholera, measles, dengue, and conflict-related humanitarian needs, this new outbreak is a major setback.

Isolation units and emergency treatment centers have been........

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