Ethiopia Confronts a Potential Bioterrorism and Public Health Emergency: ANU Calls for Urgent Action!!

Press Release

Ethiopia Confronts a Potential Bioterrorism and Public Health Emergency: ANU Calls for Urgent Action!!

Agaezi National Union (ANU)
Date: 1 December 2025
For Immediate Release

Ethiopia Confronts a Potential Bioterrorism and Public Health Emergency: ANU Calls for Urgent Action!!

Geneva, The Agaezi National Union (ANU) expresses grave concern regarding the recent confirmation of Ethiopia’s first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a highly lethal hemorrhagic fever, alongside ongoing public-health crises including malaria, cholera, measles, malnutrition, and displacement.

Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that as of 20 November 2025, Ethiopia confirmed six laboratory-verified cases of Marburg, including three deaths, and three additional probable fatalities among epidemiologically linked cases. A total of 206 contacts have been identified and are under active surveillance.

Why This Outbreak Raises Security Concerns

While Marburg virus can occur naturally through fruit bat-to-human transmission, ANU emphasizes that the sudden emergence in Ethiopia, coupled with its high lethality, contagious nature, and the country’s fragile health infrastructure, raises legitimate concerns about potential bioterrorism.

• Marburg virus has afatality rate of up to 88%.
• Transmission occurs throughcontact with bodily fluids, placing healthcare workers, caregivers, and community members at high risk.
• Ethiopia’s ongoingconflicts, displacement, and humanitarian crises make the population extremely vulnerable, increasing the potential for destabilization if the outbreak were intentional.

ANU calls for independent and transparent investigations, international biosecurity oversight, and enhanced emergency preparedness to rule out deliberate release and prevent further escalation.

Overlapping Public-Health Crises

The Marburg outbreak is occurring amid multiple concurrent emergencies:

• Cholera and malaria outbreakshave affected hundreds of thousands since early 2025.
• Measles riskis rising in drought-affected districts, especially in Oromia and neighboring zones.
• Chronic malnutrition, food insecurity, and displacementare weakening immunity and increasing susceptibility.
• Overstretched health infrastructurelimits access to essential care, particularly in rural and conflict-affected regions.

Impact on Ordinary Citizens

For ordinary Ethiopians, especially rural and displaced populations:

• High mortality riskfrom Marburg and other endemic diseases.
• Limited healthcare accessdue to overloaded facilities and insecurity.
• Economic hardshipfrom loss of breadwinners and disrupted livelihoods.
• Forced migration and displacement, exacerbating refugee flows.
• Social disruption and stigma, including fear and panic.
• Interruption of essential services, including maternal care, immunizations, and education.

GIA Findings: Intentional Release Confirmed

The Geez Intelligence Agency reports:

• Investigations indicateunnatural origin and deliberate introduction of the virus in southern regions.
• Genetic and epidemiological analyses suggest patterns inconsistent with natural animal-to-human transmission.
• The outbreak appearstargeted toward high-density areas and vulnerable populations, indicating malicious intent.

ANU stresses that the intentional release of Marburg virus constitutes bioterrorism and represents a direct threat to public health, national security, and regional stability.

Immediate Response and Recommendations

ANU urges Ethiopian authorities, regional partners, and international organizations to implement urgent measures:

1. Investigate outbreak origins:Ensure independent monitoring to determine if the outbreak is natural or deliberate.
2. Scale up surveillance and rapid response:Expand testing, contact tracing, isolation, and community-based monitoring.
3. Strengthen health infrastructure and workforce:Deploy trained rapid-response teams, protective equipment, and medical supplies.
4. Improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH):Provide safe water and sanitation in camps and rural zones.
5. Reinforce nutrition and food security:Deliver targeted food and nutritional support to vulnerable populations.
6. Ensure humanitarian access:Secure safe corridors for aid delivery in conflict-affected and remote areas.
7. Community engagement and risk communication:Educate the public on prevention, symptoms, and reduce stigma.
8. Cross-border coordination:Collaborate with neighboring countries to prevent regional spread.
9. Sustainable funding and international support:Mobilize humanitarian aid and long-term investment in health systems.

ANU’s Commitment

The Agaezi National Union is committed to:

• Supporting Ethiopia’s efforts to contain the outbreak.
• Advocating for international investigation into potential bioterrorism risks.
• Mobilizing resources and public awareness campaigns.
• Safeguarding communities and strengthening resilience against public health threats.

“Ethiopia stands at a critical juncture. The emergence of Marburg, alongside chronic crises, represents both a public-health emergency and a potential national security threat. Urgent, coordinated action is imperative to protect our citizens, restore stability, and prevent catastrophic loss of life,” said Dr. Aregawi Mebrahtu, ANU Co-Founder and Global Supreme Diplomatic Leader

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Geneva, ANU HeadQuarter Office