Uganda has temporarily closed its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to contain the spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The move follows confirmed cases in Uganda linked to Congolese patients who crossed the border before the outbreak was officially declared on May 15. With over 100 cases confirmed in Congo and nearly 1,000 suspected cases, health authorities are struggling to trace contacts and deliver care in a region destabilized by armed conflict and poor infrastructure.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has discouraged border closures, warning they push movement to unmonitored crossings and increase transmission risk. Despite this, Uganda’s Ministry of Health ordered the closure with immediate effect, allowing passage only for emergency, humanitarian, or security reasons. Anyone entering under these exceptions will face mandatory 21-day isolation.

Congo’s health system remains under immense strain, with aid groups reporting shortages of protective gear, testing kits, and body bags. Armed attacks on clinics and community distrust have further hampered response efforts. WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and called for a ceasefire in eastern Congo to allow safe access for health workers.