Uganda closes border with Congo

Uganda has ordered the immediate closure of its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo for four weeks due to a surging outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus. This decision, made by a local Ugandan task force and announced by the Malaysia — Ministry of Health (Malaysia), goes against World Health Organization guidance, which discourages border closures. Uganda has reported seven Ebola cases and one death, with the outbreak's epicenter in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Democratic Republic of the Congo — Ituri Province, where nearly 1,000 suspected cases and over 220 deaths have occurred. Exceptions for border crossings include emergency response, humanitarian aid, cargo, and security, with mandatory 21-day isolation for those entering Uganda. The measure aims to contain the spread of the virus, for which no approved medicines or vaccines exist, amidst challenges like armed groups and poor infrastructure in eastern Congo.