Monday December 1, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somalia’s Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that it is closely monitoring the spread of the dangerous Marburg virus following Ethiopia’s confirmation of cases in the Jinka area.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, said that although Somalia has not recorded a single case, the National Institute of Health has already activated urgent preparedness measures.
Dr. Mohamed thanked Ethiopia for its transparent reporting, noting that timely information-sharing is critical for protecting the health of people in both countries and the wider region.
“The safety of the Somali people is our primary responsibility. We will continue to work diligently, in collaboration with regional partners and WHO offices, to ensure the country is prepared for any potential pandemic threat,” he said.
Recent Marburg outbreaks have been reported in Ethiopia (November 2025) and Rwanda, where an outbreak declared in December 2024 was among the largest recorded and heavily affected healthcare workers. Ethiopia is currently battling its first-ever Marburg outbreak. Response efforts in both countries have included contact tracing, isolation, and supportive care, while Rwanda also deployed experimental vaccines and therapeutics.