Somalia boosts health surveillance after Marburg virus cases in Ethiopia
Monday December 1, 2025
Mogadishu — Somalia’s Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the spread of the Marburg virus after Ethiopia confirmed cases in the Jinka area, the ministry said Sunday, as authorities activated urgent preparedness measures despite no recorded infections inside Somalia.
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Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Mohamed Hassan Mohamed said the country’s National Institute of Health has moved to a heightened state of readiness and is coordinating with international partners to guard against cross-border transmission.
“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.
Health officials said preparedness actions are already in motion. According to the ministry, these steps include:
- Strengthening health surveillance and monitoring systems nationwide
- Preparing emergency response mechanisms
- Enhancing public awareness and risk communication
- Maintaining regular communication with international health bodies, including the World Health Organization
Dr. Mohamed thanked Ethiopian authorities for transparent reporting, saying timely information-sharing is critical to protecting people in both countries and across the Horn of Africa. Somalia’s health agencies are maintaining daily contact with counterparts and with WHO offices as they assess the evolving situation in southern Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is battling its first-ever Marburg outbreak, confirmed in November 2025 in the Jinka area. The virus has also resurfaced regionally: Rwanda faced one of the largest recorded Marburg outbreaks after declaring an emergency in December 2024, a surge that heavily affected healthcare workers. Response measures in both countries have focused on contact tracing, isolation of suspected cases, and supportive care, while Rwandan authorities also deployed experimental vaccines and therapeutics during their response.
Somalia’s ministry emphasized that no Marburg cases have been detected domestically and said it will continue issuing public guidance as needed. Officials urged communities and health facilities to remain vigilant and to report any suspected cases through established surveillance channels.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
