Uganda has closed its borders with Congo with immediate effect following the outbreak of a new Ebola epidemic. The busy border area of Ituri with high traffic is affected.
Uganda on Wednesday closed its borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a new Ebola outbreak has broken out, with immediate effect. This decision was taken by the working group for the response to Ebola, which is headed by Vice President Jessica Alupová, reports TASR, referring to reports from the AP and AFP agencies.
- Uganda has closed its borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo with immediate effect.
- In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are more than a thousand cases of Ebola and many deaths.
The Ugandan Ministry of Health said the reason for the measure is the rapidly deteriorating situation in the DRC, where official figures have seen more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases of the disease, as well as ten confirmed and 223 suspected deaths, since May 15. In response to developments in the DRC, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern.
Measures in Uganda
Uganda has so far recorded six confirmed cases of infection and one death. Effective May 21, the local Ministry of Health suspended all cross-border public and personal transport for a period of four weeks. This also applies to ferries on the border river Semliki.
A total ban on all commercial and passenger flights between Uganda and the DRC was also implemented. These measures do not apply to freight transport, but drivers are subject to extremely strict health checks.
Prohibitions and controls
Weekly markets, cultural events and gatherings where there was mixing of people from both sides of the border are prohibited in the border areas. At the same time, they strengthened army patrols at illegal crossings across the green border.
The latest border closures do not affect medics and humanitarian operations. Every person coming from the DRC will have to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine under the supervision of health professionals and local authorities. Schools in border areas remain open, but must follow strict precautionary measures.
The main reason for these restrictions is the fact that the latest Ebola epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo strain discovered in 2007 in Uganda, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment yet – unlike the more common Zaire strain. The mortality rate of the Bundibugyo tribe ranges from 25 to 50 percent. The epicenter of the epidemic is the Congolese province of Ituri, which borders Uganda and is a busy trade and migration hub.
