Uganda has closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo due to concerns over the Ebola virus spread. The country’s health ministry made the announcement on Wednesday.
The Ebola outbreak is focused in Congo’s Ituri province, located on Uganda’s western border. The decision to shut the border followed the confirmation of seven Ebola cases and one death in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
Dr. Diana Atwine, a senior official in Uganda’s health ministry, stated that the border closure is temporary. Only authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and security are allowed to cross. Strict health screening and monitoring protocols are in place for all authorized entrants.
Dr. Atwine also mentioned that Uganda intends to dispatch Ebola response teams to Congo. The border between the two countries extends over 500 miles, making a complete migration ban challenging.
The World Health Organization reported over 1,000 Ebola cases and more than 200 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency on May 17.
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