Outbreak in the DRC

The latest Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, began in the northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC government declared the outbreak on May 15, and since then health authorities have confirmed 101 cases and are monitoring more than 3,000 potential contacts. Suspected deaths linked to the hemorrhagic fever have climbed to at least 220, with nearly 1,000 suspected cases reported. Uganda has recorded seven infections, the first being a 59-year-old man who died on May 14 in Kampala. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on May 17, raising the national risk assessment for the DRC to "very high."

Uganda responds to cross-border spread

On Wednesday, Uganda’s Ebola task force, led by Vice President Jesca Alupo, decided to shut the country’s border with the DRC with immediate effect. Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Dr. Diana Atwine, announced the closure would last about four weeks.

“Uganda temporarily closes its border with DRC with immediate effect. The only exceptions are for authorized Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, food and cargo transportation under strict conditions.”

Any individual returning from the DRC, even under these exceptions, must undergo 21 days of mandatory isolation supervised by health surveillance teams. This move follows Uganda’s suspension of all public transport to the DRC a week earlier. Additionally, all media outlets are now required to dedicate 30 minutes of prime-time programming each day to Ebola prevention messaging.

International community imposes travel bans

Defying the World Health Organization’s advice, several nations have slapped travel bans on individuals from affected regions. The United States last week barred all non-citizens who had been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later extended the restriction to cover green card holders. Canada announced a 90-day ban on residents of those three countries, starting this Wednesday, and ordered a 21-day quarantine for anyone arriving from the region effective May 30. The Bahamas put in place immediate entry restrictions for 30 days, subject to review. The DRC itself has suspended flights to and from the eastern city of Bunia, a key affected area, with exceptions only for humanitarian and emergency traffic.

WHO warns border closures may backfire

The World Health Organization has repeatedly cautioned against shutting borders, arguing such measures can backfire.

“No country should close its borders or place any restrictions on travel and trade. Such measures are usually implemented out of fear and have no basis in science.”

The agency warns that closures often push people toward informal, unmonitored crossings, which can accelerate the spread of disease. Compounding the crisis, ongoing clashes between rebel groups and government forces in eastern DRC are severely hampering containment efforts. Health teams, already overstretched, lack sufficient protective gear, diagnostic kits and personnel, while insecurity prevents them from tracing thousands of contacts.

What the future holds

The outbreak is particularly alarming because no approved vaccines or treatments exist for the Bundibugyo strain.

“All cases recorded in Uganda are linked to people coming from the DRC. Given the situation in the DRC, some people might still try to enter clandestinely, especially because Uganda hosts a large population of Congolese refugees and many families continue to cross back and forth.”

With the number of cases still climbing and the response hobbled by conflict and resource shortages, health officials fear the virus will continue to race ahead of containment efforts. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned earlier this week that the epidemic is spreading faster than the ability to respond.