Uganda Shuts Border Due to Ebola Concerns

Uganda has closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo due to concerns over the Ebola virus. Health officials in Uganda have reported seven confirmed cases and one death in the capital, Kampala. The Ebola outbreak is mainly concentrated in Congo’s Ituri province, which shares a western border with Uganda.

According to Dr. Diana Atwine, a leading health official in Uganda, the border closure is temporary. Exceptions are made for essential operations such as Ebola response teams, humanitarian aid, food and cargo transport, and security, which are all subject to strict health screening and monitoring.

The border between Uganda and Congo spans over 500 miles, making a complete halt of all movements challenging. Despite this, Uganda plans to dispatch Ebola response teams to Congo to aid in managing the outbreak.

The World Health Organization has reported over 1,000 cases and more than 200 deaths, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak was declared a global health emergency on May 17.