Rwanda has reported its first cases of Marburg virus, a highly dangerous disease that can lead to death in some patients, according to an announcement by the health ministry on Friday.

The ministry is currently investigating the source of the infection and has isolated the affected individuals for treatment. Although the exact number of cases was not disclosed, the ministry stated that the outbreak involves only a small number of patients.

Marburg virus, which belongs to the same family as Ebola, has a fatality rate of up to 88 percent. It is initially transmitted to humans from fruit bats and spreads through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.

The ministry highlighted that symptoms of Marburg include high fever, intense headaches, vomiting, muscle pain, and stomach discomfort.

This news follows cases of Marburg reported in neighboring Tanzania earlier in 2023, and a previous outbreak in Uganda in 2017.