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(file photo).

Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reported. The pathogen is one of the deadliest in the world, causing symptoms similar to Ebola, such as bleeding, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The World Health Organization’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that at least nine cases were detected in southern Ethiopia, days after Africa CDC was alerted to a suspected haemorrhagic virus. The Africa CDC reported that Ethiopia’s National Reference Laboratory had confirmed Marburg virus disease and that initial investigations indicated links to strains previously found in East Africa.

The Ethiopian authorities acted quickly to contain the outbreak in Jinka. In response to the outbreak, the Africa CDC committed to supporting the response and preventing regional spread.