Also like Ebola, it is transmitted via contact with bodily fluids and has a fatality rate of between 25 and 80 percent.
The head of the World Health Organization, Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed on Friday that at least nine cases had been detected in southern Ethiopia, two days after Africa CDC was alerted to a suspected haemorrhagic virus in the region.
“Marburg virus disease (MVD) has been confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory (in Ethiopia),” Africa CDC said.
“Further epidemiological investigations and laboratory analyses are underway and the virus strain detected shows similarities to those previously identified in East Africa.”
It said Ethiopian health authorities had acted swiftly to confirm and contain the outbreak in the Jinka area.
It said it would work with Ethiopia to ensure an effective response and to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to other parts of east Africa.
An epidemic of Marburg virus killed 10 people in Tanzania in January before being terminated in March.
Rwanda said in December 2024 it had managed to stamp out its first known Marburg epidemic, which caused 15 deaths.
There is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for the Marburg virus, but oral or intravenous rehydration and treatment of specific symptoms increases patients’ chances of survival.
Last year, Rwanda trialled an experimental vaccine from the US-based Sabin Vaccine Institute.
AFP