Uganda has shut its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, prompted by fears of Ebola spreading, according to the country’s health ministry. The outbreak, centered in Congo’s Ituri province near Uganda’s western border, has led to seven confirmed cases and one death in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Dr. Diana Atwine, a key official in Uganda’s ministry of health, announced the border closure would be temporary. She stated, “Authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and security would still pass, under strict health screening and monitoring protocols.” Uganda also plans to deploy response teams to Congo.
The border stretches over 500 miles, complicating efforts to halt all migration. WHO reports more than 1,000 cases and over 200 deaths from the outbreak, predominantly in Congo, declaring it a global health emergency on May 17.