Kigali. African country Rwanda says that eight people have died so far due to the Ebola-like and highly contagious ‘Marburg virus’. Rwanda’s statement comes just days after it announced an outbreak of deadly hemorrhagic fever in the country. There is no currently approved vaccine or treatment for this fever. Like Ebola, Marburg virus also originates from fruit-eating bats. Spread between people through bodily fluids of infected individuals or contact with surfaces such as contaminated bed sheets.
The Central African country of Rwanda declared an outbreak and recorded its first six deaths a day later. Health Minister Sabine Sanjimana said that so far 26 cases have been confirmed and eight infected patients have died. People have been appealed to avoid physical touch to prevent the spread of infection. About 300 people who came in contact with people infected with the virus have also been identified and some of them have been kept in isolation centres.