health
Uganda closes border with Congo after surge of rare Ebola cases
Uganda closed its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a surge in Ebola cases of a rare variant.
TL;DR
- Uganda has closed its border with the DRC due to a surge in rare Ebola cases.
- The Bundibugyo Ebolavirus strain has spread to Uganda, causing the first confirmed death in Kampala.
- At least 220 people are suspected to have died from Ebola in the eastern Congo, with nearly 1,000 suspected cases.
- Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and corpses.
- Ugandan health workers contracting Ebola from patients and their families contributed to the spread within Uganda.
- The WHO considers the outbreak a "very high" risk for the DRC but limited globally and regionally.
- Thousands of Congolese refugees have entered Uganda fleeing conflict, straining resources and potentially facilitating border spread.