Uganda has closed its border with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with immediate effect to try to limit the spread of Ebola, Uganda’s government said on Wednesday.
The border will be closed for four weeks, except for Ebola response teams, humanitarian and security operations, and food and cargo transport, senior health official Diana Atwine told a press conference.
Uganda has reported seven Ebola cases and one death in the outbreak, whose epicentre is in Congo’s Ituri province.
DRC has seen more than 900 suspected cases and over 220 deaths, opens new tab, according to the World Health Organisation, which has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.
Uganda’s government last week announced an initial set of measures to try to limit the cross-border spread of the virus, including suspending public transport services with DRC.
Atwine said on Wednesday that any person authorised to enter Uganda from DRC would be required to undergo mandatory self-isolation for 21 days.
–Reuters–
