WHO Urges Uganda to Rethink Border Closure Amid Ebola Outbreak

The WHO Director-General has urged Uganda to reconsider its decision to close its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo following an Ebola outbreak. The call comes amidst concerns that blanket travel restrictions are ineffective and the emphasis remains on prompt and capable Ebola response.

On Monday, the Director-General of the World Health Organization urged Uganda to reconsider its decision to close its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo due to an Ebola outbreak.

During a visit to an Ebola isolation unit at a hospital in Kampala, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his concern over blanket travel restrictions, deeming them ineffective. He praised Uganda's responsiveness in addressing the outbreak, describing it as prompt and capable.

The outbreak has impacted Congo's Ituri province significantly, with 515 confirmed cases out of the country's total 544. Uganda has reported 19 cases, mainly among individuals crossing from Congo.