Rwanda has begun vaccinating people against the Marburg virus in an effort to fight an outbreak that has killed 12 people, Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana said on Sunday at a news conference in the capital of Kigali.
"The vaccination is starting today immediately," Nsanzimana said.
Vaccination would focus on those "most at risk, most exposed healthcare workers working in treatment centers, in the hospitals, in ICU, in emergency, but also the close contacts of the confirmed cases," he added.
"We believe that with vaccines, we have a powerful tool to stop the spread of this virus," the minister noted.
This Ebola-like disease is known for its high fatality rate of up to 88%. Symptoms include severe headache, vomiting, muscle aches, and stomach pain. The virus is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.