The medical community that has been the first line of defence in the fight against the Marburg virus in Rwanda is paying the price for taking the bullet for the public against the deadly disease.

Marburg has caused small, episodic outbreaks since first being identified, most recently last year in Tanzania and Ghana. It is one of the deadliest known viruses, with no approved vaccines or specific treatments.

Rwanda has said it will begin vaccine trials for the fatal Marburg virus, which has already killed at least 12 people in the country - most of them health workers. The east African country has received 700 doses of the vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute,

Rwanda begins vaccine trials amid fears of outbreak of deadly disease - Virus kills around half of people it infects

Rwandan health authorities will begin a vaccine study against the Marburg hemorrhagic fever as the East African country tries to stop the spread of an outbreak that has killed 12 people

Government to prioritise those ‘most at risk’ and ‘most exposed healthcare workers’ following the deaths of 12 people.

Rwandan Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana told reporters Sunday that the Rwanda Biomedical Centre had reviewed the vaccine shipment.