Travel health alerts
Disease outbreak alerts for Ethiopia
4 outbreaks reported for Ethiopia
Last checked against TravelHealthPro on 2026-07-05.
cVDPV1
Reported 26 June 2026Spread through contaminated food and water
In the week ending 24 June 2026, one circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) case was reported from Gambella, Ethiopia, with onset of paralysis on 16 May 2026. Five cVDPV1 cases have been reported in 2026.
There's a vaccine for this
This is a polio strain — make sure your polio booster is up to date; some countries require proof of recent vaccination to leave.
Marburg virus disease
Reported 26 January 2026Spread by close or bodily-fluid contact
On 26 January 2026, the Ethiopian government and WHO officially declared the end of the Marburg virus disease outbreak. This is following completion of enhanced surveillance and the mandatory follow-up period, with no new confirmed cases reported for consecutive 42 days. The outbreak began on 14 November 2025 and affected four district: Jinka, Malle, and Arba Minch in the South Ethiopia Region and Hawassa in the Sidama Region. A total of 14 confirmed cases, including nine deaths, were recorded.
No vaccine — how to stay safe
Risk to ordinary travellers is very low. Avoid sick people, bodily fluids, caves/mines with bats, and bushmeat.
Mpox
Reported 06 August 2025Spread by close or bodily-fluid contact
As of 31 July 2025, a total of 27 clade Ib mpox cases and one death have been confirmed in Ethiopia for 2025.
No vaccine — how to stay safe
Avoid close skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has a rash or lesions, and contact with wild animals; wash hands often.
Cholera
Reported 09 July 2025Spread through contaminated food and water
From 1 January to 11 June 2025, 4,919 cholera cases and 46 deaths were reported in four regions of Ethiopia: Afar, Amhara, Gambela and Oromia.
There's a vaccine for this
Stick to safe water and well-cooked food, wash hands often — an oral vaccine is available for higher-risk trips.
Travelling to Ethiopia?
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Contains public sector information from TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © UK Health Security Agency. Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is general guidance, not medical advice — confirm what you need for your trip with our travel health team.