The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an urgent public notice following the confirmation of a Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in Ethiopia. The alert, released on 18th November 2025, comes after the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) reported nine confirmed cases and three deaths to the World Health Organization on 14th November 2025.
According to the statement signed by the Acting Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, the Ministry of Health and its agencies are closely monitoring the situation due to the frequent movement of people between Ghana and Ethiopia. In response, a series of preventive measures have been activated to ensure the safety and protection of the Ghanaian population.
The GHS outlined that heightened surveillance has been implemented at all points of entry, with alerts issued to regional health directorates and facilities across the country. Public health emergency response structures have also been activated, and the Ministry is engaging with key One Health partners, including the Veterinary Services Directorate and the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, to strengthen preparedness and response efforts.
Marburg Virus Disease, caused by the Marburg virus, is a highly infectious and often fatal illness that can be transmitted from animals to humans and through human-to-human contact. The disease has an incubation period ranging from two to twenty-one days, and there is currently no available vaccine. Treatment focuses solely on managing symptoms.
The GHS urged the public to be vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms such as fever, bloody diarrhoea, bleeding from the gums, bleeding into the skin or eyes, or bloody urine. Citizens were further encouraged to practice strict hygiene, including regular hand washing with soap under running water or the use of alcohol-based sanitizers. The Service also advised avoiding direct contact with individuals who are unwell or show signs of bleeding, as well as avoiding animals exhibiting similar symptoms.
The Ministry of Health, through the GHS, reassured the public that all necessary steps are being taken to protect Ghanaians from the potential spread of the disease and emphasized its continued commitment to safeguarding public health.
