Six people have died from Rwanda’s first outbreak of the Marburg virus, with the health ministry reporting that most of the victims were staff from the intensive care unit. So far, 26 cases have been identified across seven of the country’s 30 districts.

Marburg has a fatality rate of up to 88% and belongs to the same virus family as Ebola. It spreads to humans from fruit bats and through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Currently, there are no specific treatments or vaccines available.

In 2023, neighboring Tanzania reported cases of the disease, while Uganda faced its last outbreak in 2017.

The three countries share porous borders.

Agencies.