Ugandan authorities have ordered the immediate closure of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo as suspected cases of a rare Ebola strain surge to nearly 1,000.
The decision, announced Wednesday by the Ugandan Ebola task force, comes after local health workers were exposed to the virus by Congolese patients who crossed before the outbreak was declared on May 15.
Travel across the Congo border will now be limited to emergency cases, including outbreak response teams, humanitarian operations, cargo, and security. All travelers will undergo strict health screening and a mandatory 21-day self-isolation.
The move defies guidance from the World Health Organization, which discouraged border closures, warning they push people to informal crossings and increase spread risks.
Uganda has reported seven Ebola cases, including one death. DR Congo has recorded at least 228 deaths and nearly 1,000 suspected cases.
The border between the two nations stretches 765 kilometers, crossed by numerous footpaths beyond official posts, complicating containment efforts. Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids of sick or deceased patients.