A Rwandan official has said his country has closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo because of the deadly Ebola outbreak.

The closure comes after a man died of the viral fever in the DRC’s major city of Goma, which is on the Rwandan border.

The death increased fears the virus could take root in the densely populated city of 2 million.

Doctor Aruna Abedi, the Ebola coordinator for North Kivu province, said a person who had made contact with the man is receiving treatment after showing signs of the illness.

Congo’s health ministry said the person who came into contact with the victim is his one-year-old daughter. The father died on Wednesday and had spent several days at home with his large family while showing symptoms.

Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Show all 12 1 /12 Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Kamala Kahindo, 42, contracted Ebola from a child she was treating. After surviving the virus, show now works at a centre in Beni taking care of others. Alexis Huguet/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Kamala Kahindo, 42, contracted Ebola from a child she was treating. After surviving the virus, show now works at a centre in Beni taking care of others. Alexis Huguet/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Kamala Kahindo, 42, contracted Ebola from a child she was treating. After surviving the virus, show now works at a centre in Beni taking care of others. Alexis Huguet/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Christelle Muvingulwa, 14, contracted Ebola and survived. Now, she participates in the Children's parliament of Beni where she talks about her experience and educates others on symptoms and treatment. Alexis Huguet/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Christelle Muvingulwa, 14, contracted Ebola and survived. Now, she participates in the Children's parliament of Beni where she talks about her experience and educates others on symptoms and treatment. Alexis Huguet/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Christelle Muvingulwa, 14, contracted Ebola and survived. Now, she participates in the Children's parliament of Beni where she talks about her experience and educates others on symptoms and treatment. Alexis Huguet/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Eugenie Kahambu Kiyora, 23, contracted Ebola days after getting married from a patient she was taking care of. After surviving the disease, she is now eight-months pregnant with her first child. Kellie Ryan/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Eugenie Kahambu Kiyora, 23, contracted Ebola days after getting married from a patient she was taking care of. After surviving the disease, she is now eight-months pregnant with her first child. Kellie Ryan/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Eugenie Kahambu Kiyora, 23, contracted Ebola days after getting married from a patient she was taking care of. After surviving the disease, she is now eight-months pregnant with her first child. Kellie Ryan/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Jeanne Katungu, 38, contracted Ebola from her neighbour's child, who died on the way to the hospital. She now works at the Ebola Treatment Center in Beni. Kellie Ryan/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Jeanne Katungu, 38, contracted Ebola from her neighbour's child, who died on the way to the hospital. She now works at the Ebola Treatment Center in Beni. Kellie Ryan/IRC Forgotten Women: Survivors of Ebola 2019 Jeanne Katungu, 38, contracted Ebola from her neighbour's child, who died on the way to the hospital. She now works at the Ebola Treatment Center in Beni. Kellie Ryan/IRC

The ministry later confirmed the one-year-old has the disease, making it the first transmission of Ebola in this outbreak inside Goma.

“We’re seeing the first active transmission chain in Goma and expect more to come,” the International Rescue Committee’s Ebola response director, Andre Heller, warned in a statement.

“On a unilateral decision by the Rwandan authorities, Rwandan citizens cannot leave for Goma,” the Congolese presidency said. “The Congolese authorities deplore this decision, which runs counter to the advice of the WHO (World Health Organisation).”

The WHO, which last month declared this year-long Ebola outbreak a global health emergency, has advised against travel restrictions.

However, the organisation said the risk of regional spread is “very high”.

World Health Organisation declares Ebola outbreak a global emergency

The outbreak in North Kivu province, which the DRC confirmed almost a year ago, has killed more than 1,800 people so far, making it the second-deadliest Ebola emergency in history.