Uganda closes its borders with Congo after Ebola outbreak
Uganda announced the immediate closure of its borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo for a period of four weeks, in an attempt to contain an Ebola virus outbreak that is witnessing a worrying escalation in eastern Congo, coinciding with the registration of infections within Ugandan territory.
According to what was announced by the Ugandan government today, Wednesday, the closure decision came after an increase in the number of health workers who were exposed to infection following their handling of patients coming from Congo before the official announcement of the outbreak on May 15.
Ugandan health official Diana Atwine said that authorities decided to close the borders "with immediate effect" to limit the spread of the virus and prevent the transmission of more cases through border crossings.
Uganda has so far recorded seven confirmed cases of Ebola, including the death of a 59-year-old man in the capital, Kampala, in mid-May, while authorities indicate that the number of contacts exposed to infection is still rising, especially among medical staff.
Rare and Dangerous Strain
This development comes at a time when the World Health Organization warned of a "catastrophic collision" between armed conflict and the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo.
The Director-General of the organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that continued fighting and mass displacement hinder efforts to contain the disease, calling on all warring parties to an immediate ceasefire.
He explained that the rare "Bundibugyo" strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment, is spreading rapidly in Ituri province and other areas in eastern Congo.
According to current estimates, the number of suspected cases approached one thousand infections, with more than 200 probable deaths recorded in three eastern provinces, including North Kivu and South Kivu.
Children and Displacement Camps
"Save the Children" organization confirmed that a quarter of the confirmed deaths so far are children, warning of the worsening humanitarian and health situation with the continuation of battles in the affected areas.
UN reports also clarified that reception and transit camps in the Ugandan "West Nile" region near the border have become operating at more than double their capacity, as a result of the influx of displaced people fleeing fighting and disease.
On the other hand, medical and relief teams face great difficulties in reaching the affected areas due to insecurity and escalating attacks on health workers, amid a state of mistrust within some local communities.
Despite international pledges to provide about 500 million dollars to support epidemic control efforts, health organizations say that a large part of the funding has not yet been disbursed, while the risk of the disease spreading within the region continues.
