INTRODUCTION:
Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a severe hemorrhagic fever with high fatality and major socioeconomic impact. Ethiopia’s recent cases highlight the need for evidence to guide preparedness and response. This study estimates the economic burden of MVD and evaluates the cost-benefit of key interventions in Sidama and the South Ethiopia Region.

OBJECTIVES:
To estimate the economic burden, cost-benefit, and cost-effectiveness of Marburg Virus Disease interventions in South Ethiopia and the Sidama Regions, Ethiopia

METHODS:
This study will employ a full economic evaluation that integrates a cost-of-illness analysis with a cost -benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis. Data will be collected from confirmed and suspected MVD cases, their households and caregivers, the isolation center, and case management involved in outbreak response. Costs will be estimated from health system, household, and societal perspectives, capturing direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and indirect costs related to productivity loss and premature mortality. A decision-analytic model will be employed using Tree Age software to compare alternative intervention scenarios over a lifetime horizon. Health outcomes will be measured using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses, including Monte Carlo simulation, will be conducted to assess uncertainty and ensure the robustness of findings. Expected outcomes: This study will generate robust estimates of the total economic burden of MVD at household, health system, and societal levels and identify key cost drivers and financially vulnerable groups during outbreaks. It will provide evidence on which MVD interventions offer the best value for money in the Ethiopian context. The findings will directly inform policy decisions related to resource allocation and outbreak preparedness. Additionally, the study will develop a transferable economic evaluation framework that can be applied to future pandemics and other public health emergencies in Ethiopia