The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that an outbreak in southern Ethiopia, infecting at least nine people, is caused by the deadly Marburg virus, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The Marburg virus is a highly virulent pathogen that causes severe hemorrhagic fever, with symptoms including high fever, severe headache, and bleeding from multiple organs.
The virus is transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, such as fruit bats or non-human primates, and can spread person-to-person through direct contact with infected bodily fluids.
The WHO is working with Ethiopian health authorities to respond to the outbreak, which has raised concerns about the potential for further spread in the region.
The organization has emphasized the importance of swift detection and response to contain the outbreak, and is providing technical support and resources to help control the situation.
