Somalia, 20 November 2025 – Somaliland has announced emergency health preparedness measures after Ethiopia confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in the southern city of Jinka.
The decision was made during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, chaired by President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro), where health officials briefed the cabinet on the regional threat posed by the virus.
Somaliland’s Minister of Health Development, Hussein Bashir Hirsi, said the Ministry is carrying out full preparations and inspections to control the disease, in order to ensure the safety of the population, particularly in the border areas.
The decision comes as Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) said, nine Marburg cases have been recorded as of 14 November 2025, including six deaths.
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Among the deceased are a doctor and a nurse.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that early symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and in some cases, internal and external bleeding within the first week.
No approved vaccine or treatment currently exists for Marburg, though rehydration and symptom-based care can improve survival chances.
Somaliland shares a land border and vital trade corridors with Ethiopia.
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