The border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Rwanda’s Rubavu District has been closed in response to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC. The closure affects the borders connecting Goma and Rubavu-Gisenyi and is part of efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.
Mayor Prosper Mulindwa of Rubavu District emphasized that the closure is temporary and necessary to protect public health and prevent potential infections. Despite the border closure, health authorities are screening Rwandans entering from the DRC and allowing Congolese citizens to return home under strict health monitoring.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the death toll from the current Ebola outbreak in the DRC has reached 87. The outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo strain, poses a high risk of regional transmission due to the lack of a specific vaccine for this strain. The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern,” emphasizing the need for coordinated global response efforts.
