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Uganda has temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in a bid to contain the Ebola outbreak that has hit its neighbour, the health ministry announced on Wednesday.
The East African country has recorded seven cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola since the outbreak was identified in the DRC on May 15.
“Uganda is temporarily closing the border with the DRC with immediate effect,” health ministry permanent secretary Diana Atwine told reporters.
The only exceptions, she said, are for “authorised Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation, and security under strict health screening and monitoring protocols.”
Atwine also announced a 21-day quarantine for anyone arriving from the DRC, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and district surveillance teams, as well as regular health checks for pupils at schools near the border.
The Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine exists, has caused more than 220 suspected deaths and 900 suspected cases in the DRC, according to official figures.
The World Health Organisation has declared the outbreak an international public health emergency.
Uganda had previously suspended all public transport to the DRC on May 21 after confirming two initial Ebola cases involving Congolese nationals who crossed the border. The country later confirmed five additional cases.
The border closure is the latest measure by Ugandan authorities to prevent further importation of the virus as the outbreak continues to spread in eastern DRC.
