Rwanda has reported the deaths of eight people following an outbreak of the highly contagious Marburg virus, a disease similar to Ebola.
The announcement comes just days after the country declared the outbreak of this deadly hemorrhagic fever, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment, according to the Associated Press.
The Marburg virus originates in fruit bats, much like Ebola, and spreads between individuals through close contact with bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces, such as bedding. The virus is deadly, with a fatality rate of up to 88% of those infected.
Rwanda, a landlocked country in Central Africa, declared the outbreak last Friday. A day later, it confirmed the first six deaths. By Sunday evening, Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana confirmed that 26 cases had been identified, with eight deaths among them.
Authorities have urged Rwandans to avoid physical contact to help curb the spread of the virus. Approximately 300 people who came into contact with confirmed cases have been identified, with some placed in isolation.
Most of those affected are healthcare workers in six of the country’s 30 districts.
