The death toll from Ethiopia’s Marburg virus disease outbreak has risen to five. In its latest update, the country’s Health Ministry said the outbreak’s case fatality rate now stands at 50 per cent.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said that coordinated efforts are currently underway to avert possible cross-border spread to neighbouring countries, mainly South Sudan and Kenya.
The Marburg virus, a highly infectious pathogen with a high fatality rate, causes hemorrhagic fever. Symptoms include high fever and severe headache.
It belongs to the same virus family as Ebola. According to the World Health Organization, Marburg virus disease is a severe disease with a fatality rate of up to 88 per cent.