Uganda Closes Border With Congo as Ebola Fears Rise
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Uganda has temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo due to concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus, following confirmed cases and a death in Kampala.
- The outbreak is primarily centered in Congo’s Ituri province, which borders Uganda, with over 1,000 cases and 200 deaths reported in the region.
- Exceptions to the border closure include authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transport, and security personnel, all subject to strict health screenings.
- Uganda plans to deploy Ebola response teams to Congo to help contain the outbreak, despite challenges posed by the border’s length of over 500 miles.
- The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak a global health emergency as of May 17.