Six people have died from the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, the Health Minister announced.
Sabin Nsanzimana said most of the victims were medical staff in the intensive care unit.
Twenty cases have been identified since the outbreak was confirmed on Friday.
Marburg, with a mortality rate of up to 88%, belongs to the same virus family as Ebola. It spread to humans from fruit bats and then through contact with the body fluids of infected people.
Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and in some cases, death from excessive blood loss.
According to the World Health Organization, there are currently no specific treatments or vaccines for the virus, but a range of blood products, drugs and immunotherapies are being developed.
Rwanda said it is stepping up tracing, surveillance and testing of contacts to help stop the spread.
Authorities are urging the public to be vigilant and report all suspected cases.
Neighboring Tanzania reported an outbreak in 2023, while three people died in Uganda in 2017.
