European Union Pledges €700,000 to Bolster Ethiopia's Marburg Response

The European Union has provided €700,000, equivalent to 819,000 US dollars, to the World Health Organization in Ethiopia to reinforce the country’s response to the ongoing Marburg virus disease outbreak in the southern region. This contribution is part of a wider €1.2 million, or approximately 1.404 million US dollars, EU emergency humanitarian package, channelled through multiple partners to strengthen a coordinated, system-wide response to the outbreak. WHO Ethiopia said the funding will support the procurement and delivery of critical medical supplies, the expansion of isolation and treatment facilities, the deployment of rapid response teams, and the strengthening of surveillance and contact tracing. It will also enhance coordination with national and regional health authorities, helping to contain transmission while maintaining essential health services. The outbreak, first confirmed in mid-November 2025 in the South Ethiopia and Sidama regions, marked Ethiopia’s first encounter with Marburg virus disease. Several fatalities were recorded in the early stages of the outbreak, though no new cases have been confirmed in recent weeks. Authorities continue monitoring the situation closely, as a 42-day period without new infections is required to declare the outbreak officially over. Marburg virus disease is a rare but severe viral haemorrhagic fever, with previous outbreaks showing fatality rates exceeding 50 percent. The virus spreads from fruit bats to humans and between humans via direct contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. There are currently no approved vaccines or antiviral treatments, though human trials for vaccines against Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa viruses are underway. “The European Union’s support provides vital resources to reinforce Ethiopia’s frontline against Marburg,” WHO Ethiopia said, highlighting the role of international cooperation in confronting high-risk public health threats.