Uganda has shut its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo effective Wednesday, May 27, as authorities move to contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, the country’s health ministry confirmed.
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The closure follows the detection of seven confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain within Uganda since the outbreak was first reported in the DRC on May 15.
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Health ministry permanent secretary Diana Atwine announced the measure, stating that the shutdown takes immediate effect but will permit limited crossings under tightly controlled conditions. Authorised Ebola response personnel, humanitarian workers, food and cargo transporters, and security forces will be exempt — though all must undergo rigorous health screening before entry.
Alongside the border closure, Ugandan authorities have imposed a mandatory 21-day quarantine on all travellers arriving from the DRC and stepped up health surveillance in schools near border communities.
The measures reflect growing alarm over the scale of the outbreak next door. The DRC has recorded upwards of 900 suspected cases and more than 220 suspected deaths since the virus emerged. The severity of the crisis prompted the World Health Organization to declare it a global health emergency — a designation that signals the need for a coordinated international response.
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