Uganda has ordered the closure of its border with Congo as suspected cases of a rare Ebola strain surge. The measure, announced Wednesday, goes against World Health Organization guidance but reflects growing fears of contagion in East Africa.
The outbreak involves Bundibugyo, a rare Ebola type with no approved medicines or vaccines. According to the CDC and WHO, Congo has 121 confirmed cases and 17 confirmed deaths, with over 1,000 suspected cases. Uganda has reported seven confirmed cases, including one death.
Border crossings will be allowed only for emergencies, including outbreak response, cargo, or security reasons. Anyone entering from Congo under those circumstances will face a mandatory 21-day isolation.
Dr. Diana Atwine of Uganda's Health Ministry stated the decision was made by a local task force. The closure comes after Ugandan health workers were exposed to the virus by Congolese patients before the outbreak was declared May 15.
WHO has discouraged such closures, warning they push movement to unmonitored border crossings, increasing disease spread risk. The agency has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Meanwhile, Congolese authorities announced the first recovery from Bundibugyo virus, releasing a patient from a treatment center in Rwampara.
The U.S. is setting up a quarantine facility in Kenya for exposed Americans. All U.S. citizens returning from Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan must enter through one of three designated airports for enhanced screening. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the U.S. will not allow Ebola cases to enter the country.