An outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in Rwanda is under control with “almost zero risk” of it spreading across the country’s borders, the African Union’s health watchdog said on Thursday.

The outbreak of the Ebola-like virus was first announced in Rwanda in late September and a vaccination programme using a trial vaccine was launched at the weekend.

“The outbreak in Rwanda is controlled,” the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, said at an online briefing.

The small nation in the Great Lakes region of Africa has recorded up to 58 cases of the disease, with 13 deaths, Rwandan Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana told the briefing.

He said 12 people had recovered while more than 2,700 had been tested.

“We estimated, calculated, a test fatality rate of about 22 percent and we want to keep this as low as possible.”

With a fatality rate of up to 88 percent, Marburg’s highly infectious haemorrhagic fever is often accompanied by bleeding and organ failure.

At Thursday’s briefing, Kaseya said Rwanda had recorded no new cases or deaths in an update the day before, adding: “It means we are expecting to see Rwanda out of this outbreak very soon.”

He also said there was “almost zero risk” of the virus spreading across the borders of the landlocked country.

“(It’s) 95 percent sure there is zero risk for Rwanda to spread the disease out of Rwanda.”

On Monday, the United States urged its citizens to reconsider travelling to Rwanda because of Marburg.

Kigali also announced on Wednesday that in the wake of the outbreak it was postponing its annual baby gorilla naming ceremony scheduled for October 18.

The event is aimed at raising awareness of the need for mountain gorilla conservation and to promote tourism.

AFP