Rwanda declares the Marburg virus outbreak over, with no new cases, all patients discharged, and continued surveillance efforts.

Rwanda's health minister announced on Thursday that the outbreak of the often deadly Marburg virus in the country has officially ended, with no new cases reported for nearly two weeks.

The outbreak, first detected in late September in the small Great Lakes nation, prompted Rwanda to launch a vaccination campaign against Marburg in October.

"Since then, we have been fighting this virus to make sure it's controlled in Rwanda," Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana stated during a press briefing held by the Africa Union's health watchdog, Africa CDC.

"I am very happy to report here today that it has been almost two weeks without a case and a month without a death related to Marburg disease," Nsanzimana announced, adding, "Marburg virus in Rwanda is over."

The minister also revealed positive developments regarding patient recovery. "All patients being treated for this virus are being discharged... we are making very good progress," he said.

In October, Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya had declared that the virus was under control and assured the public that there was "almost zero risk" of it spreading beyond Rwanda's borders.

Marburg is a virus transmitted to humans from fruit bats, belonging to the same family as the Ebola virus. It causes highly infectious hemorrhagic fever, often accompanied by severe bleeding and organ failure. The disease has a historically high fatality rate of up to 88 percent.

However, the Rwandan outbreak showed a significantly lower fatality rate, with 15 deaths out of 66 confirmed cases, resulting in a mortality rate just under 23 percent.

Minister Nsanzimana emphasized that authorities remain vigilant despite the improved situation. "We are carrying out increased surveillance of fruit bats for the virus," he said, highlighting ongoing efforts to prevent future outbreaks.