Rwandan authorities have intensified health screenings and tightened border controls with the Democratic Republic of Congo following the spread of a deadly Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain.<\/p>\n
Health workers stationed at border crossings near the Congolese city of Goma are conducting temperature checks and screening travellers entering Rwanda as fears grow over wider regional transmission.<\/p>\n
The outbreak, centred in eastern DR Congo, has killed at least 131 people while 531 suspected infections have been recorded, according to health authorities. The World Health Organization has since declared the situation an international public health emergency.<\/p>\n
Rwanda has also imposed stricter controls on cross-border movement since the outbreak was confirmed, measures that residents say are disrupting daily trade and livelihoods in border communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like the government to find a solution so that we can transport our goods normally across the border while still taking precautions,\u201d local trader Nsengiyaremye Kigendi said.<\/p>\n
Another resident, Twiringirimana Daniel, said the restrictions have forced traders to leave goods at the border for Congolese transporters to collect, increasing losses and reducing profits.<\/p>\n
Health officials say the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant that currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.<\/p>\n
The strain previously caused outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and DR Congo in 2012, with mortality rates ranging between 30 and 50 percent.<\/p>\n
Authorities say the current outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province in northeastern Congo, where ongoing armed conflict and mass displacement are complicating efforts to contain the virus.<\/p>\n
The outbreak\u2019s epicentre, Mongbwalu, lies in territory controlled by the CODECO militia, while attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, linked to the Islamic State group, continue in nearby areas.<\/p>\n
Further south, clashes between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have continued despite a peace agreement signed last year.<\/p>\n
A confirmed Ebola case has also been reported in Goma, a strategic city near the Rwandan border currently under M23 control.<\/p>\n
Amid mounting concerns, the United States has raised its travel advisory for DR Congo, South Sudan and Uganda to Level Four, warning citizens not to travel to those countries.<\/p>\n
Washington has also advised Americans to reconsider travel to Rwanda because of the outbreak.<\/p>\n
Health experts warn that insecurity, population displacement and limited humanitarian access could accelerate the spread of the virus across East Africa.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rwandan authorities have intensified health screenings and tightened border controls with the Democratic Republic of Congo following the spread of a deadly Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain. Health workers stationed at border crossings near the Congolese city of Goma are conducting temperature checks and screening travellers entering Rwanda as fears grow over<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"no","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"twitter_1160854738579181570_1160854738579181570":"","facebook_3558452337540614_100649324928663":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[{"account":"twitter_1160854738579181570_1160854738579181570","service":"twitter","timestamp":1779268423,"status":"error"},{"account":"facebook_3558452337540614_100649324928663","service":"facebook","timestamp":1779268423,"status":"error"}],"rop_publish_now_status":"done","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[205],"tags":[3164,2096,3159,3163,3162,123,1240,3158,3030,2288,3165,3161,3028,1267,3160],"class_list":{"0":"post-15437","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tw-health","8":"tag-africa-health-news","9":"tag-border-security","10":"tag-bundibugyo-strain","11":"tag-codeco","12":"tag-congo-conflict","13":"tag-dr-congo","14":"tag-east-africa","15":"tag-ebola","16":"tag-goma","17":"tag-health-emergency","18":"tag-infectious-diseases","19":"tag-ituri-province","20":"tag-m23-rebels","21":"tag-rwanda","22":"tag-who"},"yoast_head":"\n