An outbreak of the life-threatening Marburg virus in Rwanda has led to the deaths of eight people, according to officials. The virus, similar to Ebola, has no specific treatment or vaccine, making prevention the best possible way to escape it.

Amid reports of a deadly viral outbreak in Central Africa, researchers are reportedly scrambling to develop treatments and vaccines to combat Marburg virus.

The East African country continues to investigate the source of the outbreak, first traced among patients in health facilities.

Marburg vaccines are set to arrive in Rwanda in the coming days to help protect healthcare workers fighting an outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic fever.