Uganda today, Wednesday, May 27, made an urgent decision to temporarily close its borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of strict precautionary measures to limit the spread of the Ebola virus, which has recently spread in the neighboring country.
Diana Atwine, an official at the Ugandan Ministry of Health, explained during a press conference that the decision came into effect immediately upon its announcement, noting that exceptions will remain limited and will only include authorized health response teams, humanitarian operations, in addition to the transportation of food and goods, according to precise health conditions that require mandatory medical examinations.
The same official confirmed that all those returning to Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo will be subject to a 21-day quarantine period, under the supervision of specialized medical teams, as a preventive measure to avoid the transmission of infection within the country.
In a parallel context, the Ministry of Health stressed the role of the media in confronting the epidemic, as it obligated various national media outlets to allocate 30 minutes daily during peak hours to raise awareness of the dangers of Ebola disease and ways to prevent it.
This decision comes after the registration of seven confirmed cases in Uganda, since the announcement of the outbreak on May 15 in the Ituri region of northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where infections are due to the "Bundibugyo" variant of the Ebola virus, known for its danger and rapid spread.
