Uganda Closes Border With DRC Following Ebola Outbreak

Uganda has closed its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to contain the spread of a rare strain of the Ebola virus. The decision was implemented by the local Ebola response team, led by Vice President Jaffer Alupo. Ugandan authorities have identified seven confirmed cases of the virus to date. The first fatality occurred on May 14 in the capital, Kampala, involving a 59-year-old man. Healthcare workers contracted the country contracted the virus after treating patients of Congolese origin who had crossed the border. These infections occurred prior to the official declaration of the outbreak on May 15. The border closure follows the detection of the virus within Uganda and the ongoing spread of the rare strain in the neighboring DRC.