The outbreak, officially declared last week on May 15 is driven by a rare Ebola type virus called Bundibugyo strain which currently has no approved vaccine or cure. DRC Health Minister Roger Kamba confirmed on Tuesday that 543 suspected cases have been recorded, with 32 laboratiry-confirmed infections. Confirmed cases have now reached North Kivu province, including Goma town which directly borders Rubavu district.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa CDC have both declared the situation a public health emergency, triggering immediate regional response.

"I am deeply concerned about the scale and speed of the epidemic," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus addressing the World Health Assemby in Geneva. He also warned of "healthcare-associated transmission" following several deaths in frontline doctors and nurses.

Additionally, health officials are racing against time to locate the source of the infection.

"This outbreak started in April. So far, we don't know the index case," stated Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya. "It means we don't know how far the magnitude of this outbreak is."

In response to the growing cross-border epidemic, Ministry of Health in Rwanda has put up medical teams in Rubavu district on high alert, enforcing temperature checks and sanitization protocols at all entry points.