At least six people have been confirmed dead following a Marburg virus outbreak in Ethiopia, according to the country’s state-run news agency.
Officials announced the outbreak on Friday, November 14, and within three days, it had already resulted in at least three deaths.
The Ethiopian press reported that out of the 11 people who tested positive for the virus, six have passed away while the remaining five are currently undergoing medical care.
The Ministry of Health also revealed that 349 people who may have had contact with infected individuals were placed under observation. Of those, 119 completed their surveillance and have been released.
The outbreak occurred in the Omo region, which shares a border with South Sudan.No other African nation has reported Marburg virus cases in recent weeks.
The Marburg virus is believed to originate from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or contaminated surfaces such as bed linens.
Symptoms can include fever, vomiting, muscle aches, diarrhea and in severe cases, death from massive blood loss. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for the disease
