Uganda Closes Its Border With Congo As Cases Of Rare Ebola Type Surge

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Ugandan officials on Wednesday ordered the border with Congo closed “effective immediately” as cases of a rare variant in its neighbor approached 1,000. Ebola and others as they arise at home.

The measure, which goes against guidance from the World Health Organization, underlined fears of growing contagion in this East African country, which has experience responding to Ebola outbreaks like Congo but this time is facing a strain: bundibugyoIt has no approved drugs or vaccines.

A local Ebola task force decided to close the border after an increasing number of Ugandan healthcare workers were exposed to the virus by Congolese patients before the outbreak was declared on May 15.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwine told reporters that travel across the Congolese border would only be allowed in emergencies, including in response to the epidemic, cargo or for security reasons. Anyone entering from Congo under emergency circumstances will be subject to mandatory isolation for 21 days.

Tracing and isolating Ebola contacts is seen as key to stopping the spread of the disease, which often manifests as hemorrhagic fever. The virus spreads through close contact with body fluids of sick or deceased patients. Experts say the greatest risk faces healthcare workers and family members who care for patients.

The number of suspected cases in eastern Congo is approaching 1,000 and there are at least 220 suspicious deaths. Congo’s health ministry said Tuesday that 101 cases had been confirmed and they were investigating more than 3,000 possible contacts.

While WHO declared this outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, neighboring countries opposed border closures, recognizing that the risk of transmission was high.

The UN agency said the closures “caused people and goods to move towards unmonitored informal border crossings, thus increasing the likelihood of the disease spreading.” Infected people or those in contact should not travel internationally unless there is a medical evacuation.

The border between Uganda and Congo is several hundred miles long and crossed by numerous trails beyond official border posts. Many people come and go during the day to visit their families or do business.

Health authorities in Congo Struggling to control the epidemic That outnumbered them, the World Health Organization said, after the rare strain of Ebola was confirmed weeks later as tests for a more common strain were carried out.

Challenges include the threat of armed groups in eastern Congo, large numbers of displaced people and poor infrastructure.

Meanwhile, conflict-traumatized residents have long been wary of outsiders, while responders in Congo say they were underprepared and inadequately protected against this outbreak. Attacked many clinics He threw stones and harassed volunteers who were trying to raise people’s awareness about the virus and its risks.

Uganda has reported seven cases of Ebola, including the first case of a 59-year-old man who died in the capital Kampala on May 14. Although the Ebola caseload is not increasing, the number of local people exposed to infection through healthcare workers is increasing.

“They have families, so their numbers are increasing,” health official Atwine said about healthcare workers.

He also said he was horrified to see some Ugandans forming crowds to celebrate Arsenal becoming British Premier League champions. The team has a large following in Uganda.

“I don’t understand,” Atwine said, urging people to be careful, avoid shaking hands and use disinfectant.

There have been 17 Ebola outbreaks in Congo. Health experts say last year’s aid cuts by the United States and other rich countries were devastating for eastern Congo because of problems unique to the region.

Aid groups fighting the epidemic say they lack the equipment they need, such as face shields and coveralls to protect healthcare workers from infection, and test kits and body bags needed to safely bury victims.