Uganda has announced the immediate closure of its border with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo in a bid to curb the spread of Ebola, the government confirmed on Wednesday.
The closure will remain in effect for four weeks, with limited exemptions granted to Ebola response teams, humanitarian and security personnel, as well as food and cargo transport, according to senior health official Diana Atwine.
Uganda has recorded seven confirmed Ebola cases and one death in the current outbreak, which is centred in Congo’s Ituri province.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has reported more than 900 suspected cases and over 220 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has classified the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola as a public health emergency of international concern.
Uganda had already introduced initial containment measures last week, including the suspension of public transport services operating between the two countries, in an effort to reduce cross-border transmission risks.
Atwine also stated that individuals permitted to enter Uganda from Congo will be required to undergo mandatory 21-day self-isolation.
Health authorities say the measures are aimed at strengthening surveillance and preventing further spread of the virus across the region.
