Death toll from Ethiopia's Marburg outbreak rises to five

ADDIS ABABA: The death toll from Ethiopia's Marburg virus disease outbreak has risen to five, the country's Ministry of Health has said.

In its latest update issued late Saturday, the ministry said the outbreak's case fatality rate now stands at 50 per cent. Two additional infections were confirmed after laboratory testing of seven suspected cases, bringing the total number of cases to 10.

As Ethiopia rolls out coordinated response measures to contain the country's first-ever Marburg virus outbreak, health authorities have conducted laboratory investigations on 53 suspected cases so far.

Ministry data showed that five individuals who have contracted the virus are currently receiving treatment at healthcare facilities.

The Ethiopian government confirmed the country's first Marburg virus disease outbreak in Jinka town in southern Ethiopia on November 14, following laboratory testing of samples from a cluster of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever cases.