Staff Reporter

Uganda has temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in an effort to stop the spread of the Ebola virus, health officials announced on Wednesday.

The move comes after Uganda confirmed seven cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola since the outbreak was first detected in eastern DRC on May 15.

Speaking to reporters, Uganda’s Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Diana Atwine, said the border closure takes effect immediately.

“The only exceptions are authorised Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transport, and security personnel operating under strict health screening and monitoring measures,” Atwine said.

Uganda has also introduced a mandatory 21-day quarantine for all travellers arriving from the DRC. The quarantine process will be supervised by the Ministry of Health together with district surveillance teams.

Authorities further announced regular health checks for pupils attending schools near the border areas as part of efforts to strengthen monitoring and prevent infections.

According to official figures from the DRC, the outbreak has already resulted in more than 220 suspected deaths and over 900 suspected cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the outbreak as an international public health emergency.

Health experts continue to urge neighbouring countries to tighten screening measures and improve public awareness campaigns to help contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Additional reporting by AFP.