Uganda Closes Congo Border Amid Ebola Fears

Uganda has implemented a border closure with the Democratic Republic of Congo in response to a significant surge in cases of a rare Ebola type, Bundibugyo. This measure, taken against WHO recommendations, reflects deep concerns over contagion in East Africa. The Bundibugyo Ebola strain is particularly worrisome as it lacks approved medical treatments or vaccines.

Confirmed cases in Congo stand at 121 with 17 deaths, alongside over 1,000 suspected cases and 246 suspected fatalities. Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases, including one death. Health workers in Uganda were exposed by Congolese patients who had crossed the border prior to the outbreak's declaration on May 15.

Border crossings are now restricted to emergencies, outbreak response, cargo, or security, with mandatory 21-day isolation for any authorized entrants from Congo. The World Health Organization advises against border closures, warning they can push movements to unmonitored informal crossings, potentially increasing disease spread.

Congolese authorities are struggling to contain the outbreak, exacerbated by challenges like armed groups, displaced populations, and poor infrastructure. The WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is establishing a treatment facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to or infected by Ebola. Six Americans previously evacuated from Congo are undergoing monitoring in Germany and the Czech Republic. U.S. airports in Houston, Washington Dulles, and Atlanta are conducting enhanced screenings for travelers from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, with John F. Kennedy International Airport being added to this list.