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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed an outbreak of the highly lethal Marburg virus disease (MVD) in southern Ethiopia.
The Marburg virus is one of the deadliest known pathogens, similar to Ebola, causing severe fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal bleeding. It has a fatality rate between 25 and 80 per cent and is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed at least nine cases in the Jinka area, two days after authorities were alerted to a suspected haemorrhagic virus.
The Africa CDC noted that the detected strain is similar to those previously identified in East Africa.
Ethiopian health authorities have acted quickly to contain the epidemic, and the Africa CDC will work with them to ensure an effective response and reduce the risk of regional spread of the virus.
MVD has no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment, but supportive care, such as rehydration, can significantly increase a patient’s chance of survival.
This outbreak follows recent epidemics that were brought under control in Tanzania and Rwanda.
