WHO asks Uganda to rethink Congo border closure due to Ebola

The Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Ghebreyesus, has asked Uganda to think again about its decision to close the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) because of the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

Mr Ghebreyesus made this call during his visit to an Ebola isolation unit in Kampala, Uganda's capital. He praised Uganda's quick and effective response to the outbreak.

But he pointed out that closing borders usually does not work well in stopping Ebola. He expressed hope that Ugandan officials would change their minds about this decision.

Uganda announced the temporary border closure with the DRC late last month. This was part of efforts to stop the disease from spreading. However, the closure allows exceptions for humanitarian work, Ebola response teams, security workers, and cargo transportation.

The outbreak was officially declared by Congolese authorities in May. It has continued to spread, despite ongoing response efforts.

The WHO reported on Tuesday that the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has led to 515 confirmed cases and 91 deaths in the DRC. They also shared that Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed cases, two deaths, and one probable fatal case as of June 6.

According to WHO, the outbreak is mainly in conflict-affected areas of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. Insecurity, attacks on health workers, and community mistrust have made it harder to respond effectively.

Health authorities say the Bundibugyo strain is particularly challenging. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this virus. The outbreak is believed to have been spreading without detection for weeks before it was identified, allowing transmission to increase.

WHO warned that even though the global risk is low, the chance of further spread in the region is high. This is due to people moving across borders and the tough humanitarian situation in eastern Congo.

Last week, PREMIUM TIMES reported that WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention started a joint six-month plan. This plan aims to raise $518 million to help affected countries and improve readiness across Africa.

The plan runs from June to November 2026. It seeks to support surveillance, lab testing, infection prevention, clinical care, community engagement, and cross-border coordination.

WHO said this strategy would help both the countries affected and their neighbours that might import cases.

While there have been no confirmed Ebola cases in Nigeria, officials have stepped up surveillance and preparedness measures due to the outbreak in the region. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has warned that Nigeria could risk importing the virus through international travel, regional movement, and weak border controls.