By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU– Somalia’s Ministry of Health has announced that it is intensifying national surveillance and preparedness measures following Ethiopia’s confirmation of Marburg virus cases in the southern Jinka area.
In a statement released on Sunday, Deputy Health Minister Dr Mohamed Hassan Mohamed said Somalia had not detected any cases of the highly lethal virus but stressed that the government was treating the situation with “serious urgency.” He confirmed that the National Institute of Health had activated its emergency response systems as a precaution.
According to the Health Ministry, Somalia has begun strengthening disease-monitoring mechanisms at borders, airports and key health facilities. Officials say rapid-response teams have been placed on standby, while laboratories have been instructed to reinforce diagnostic procedures that enable early detection of viral haemorrhagic fevers.
Public awareness campaigns are being prepared to inform communities—especially those living in border regions—about symptoms, prevention measures and when to seek medical assistance. The Ministry said it is also maintaining regular communication with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and neighbouring health authorities.
Dr Mohamed welcomed Ethiopia’s disclosure of the outbreak, saying transparent cross-border reporting is “crucial for protecting the health of citizens in both countries and across the wider region.”
“The safety of the Somali people is our primary responsibility,” he said. “We will continue to work diligently, in collaboration with regional partners and WHO offices, to ensure the country is fully prepared for any potential pandemic threat.”
Ethiopia confirmed its first-ever Marburg outbreak in November 2025, with health officials reporting a cluster of cases originating in Jinka. It marks a significant public-health challenge for the country, which has never previously recorded the virus.
Rwanda is also continuing to recover from a large-scale outbreak declared in December 2024. That outbreak became one of the largest documented globally and resulted in high infection rates among healthcare workers, prompting the deployment of experimental vaccines and investigational treatments under emergency protocols. Both Ethiopia and Rwanda have relied on contact tracing, isolation of suspected cases and supportive clinical care to contain the spread.
Marburg virus is a highly infectious pathogen from the same family as Ebola. It causes severe haemorrhagic fever with symptoms including high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and internal bleeding. Fatality rates can range from 24% to 88%, depending on the outbreak and quality of care.
There is currently no licensed vaccine or antiviral treatment for Marburg, although several candidates are undergoing clinical trials. Outbreaks are rare but have historically triggered major international response efforts due to the virus’s rapid spread and high mortality.
Somali authorities say they will continue monitoring the situation closely and will issue public guidance should the regional risk level change.
