Ethiopia is investigating a suspected outbreak of viral haemorrhagic fever in the South Ethiopia Region, prompting health authorities to intensify their response efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the government by deploying an initial emergency team and delivering vital medical supplies to help determine the cause of the infection and prevent further spread.
Eight suspected cases have been reported so far, and laboratory analyses are currently underway at the Ethiopia Public Health Institute to identify the specific virus involved. As part of the response, WHO is sending a multidisciplinary team of 11 technical officers with extensive experience in managing viral haemorrhagic fever outbreaks. These experts will assist in strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, laboratory diagnostics, infection prevention and control, clinical management, coordination, and community engagement.
To boost the country’s response capacity, WHO is also providing essential materials, including personal protective equipment for health workers, infection-prevention supplies, and a deployable isolation tent to support clinical care. Additional technical expertise is being mobilized to reinforce ongoing operations. In parallel, WHO has released US$ 300,000 from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to ensure rapid support to Ethiopian health authorities.
Viral haemorrhagic fevers are a group of epidemic-prone diseases caused by several families of viruses, including Marburg, Ebola, Lassa fever, and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. While symptoms vary depending on the virus, early signs often include high fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle pain, weakness, and severe exhaustion. Health authorities stress that all suspected cases—whether isolated or in clusters—must be reported immediately, even before the specific virus is confirmed.
Ethiopian health officials and WHO continue working closely to identify the source of the outbreak and prevent further transmission as investigations progress.
