Research and analysis
Outbreaks under monitoring: week 51 (week ending 21 December 2025)
Updated 24 December 2025
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| Disease or pathogen | Marburg disease |
|---|---|
| Location | Ethiopia |
| Status | Situation update |
| Reporting date | 12 November to 21 December 2025 |
| Summary | On 14 November 2025, the World Health Organization confirmed the country’s first Marburg disease outbreak in Jinka town, following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever cases (Facebook login required). As of 21 December 2025, 14 confirmed cases and 9 confirmed deaths have been reported. No new confirmed cases have been reported since the last report. Genomic analysis suggests that the Marburg virus detected in this outbreak is of the same strain as the virus reported in previous outbreaks in East African countries. The source of the infection has not yet been identified although initial investigations confirmed the presence of fruit bats (a reservoir of Marburg virus) in the area. No known human Marburg cases have been reported in the UK. The risk of this outbreak to the UK public is currently considered very low. |
| Further information |
Marburg virus disease: origins, reservoirs, transmission and guidelines Viral haemorrhagic fever: ACDP algorithm and guidance on management of patients Marburg contact tracing (collection page) Ebola and Marburg: returning workers scheme NaTHNaC country information page: Ethiopia |