Authorities in Rwanda have intensified health screenings and tightened border controls with Democratic Republic of the Congo following a worsening Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus. The outbreak, centered in eastern Congo, has killed at least 131 people and led to more than 531 suspected infections, according to Congolese health officials. The growing crisis has prompted the World Health Organization to declare an international public health emergency. At border posts near the Congolese city of Goma, health workers have increased temperature checks and medical screenings for travelers entering Rwanda. Authorities have also restricted cross-border movement in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading further across East Africa.
Residents in Rwanda’s Rubavu District say the tighter measures are disrupting business activities and affecting incomes for traders who rely on daily commerce across the border. “We would like the government to find a solution so that we can transport our goods normally across the border while still taking precautions,” local trader Nsengiyaremye Kigendi said. Another resident, Twiringirimana Daniel, explained that traders are now forced to leave goods at the border for transporters on the Congolese side to collect, increasing losses and reducing profits. Health officials say the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment. The strain previously caused outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and DR Congo in 2012, with fatality rates estimated between 30 and 50 percent. The latest outbreak is concentrated in Ituri Province in northeastern Congo, a region already facing armed conflict and mass displacement. Health experts warn that insecurity is complicating containment efforts, as several armed groups continue to operate in the area.
The outbreak’s epicentre, Mongbwalu, is reportedly under the control of the CODECO militia, while attacks linked to the Allied Democratic Forces, a group associated with the Islamic State continue nearby. Further south, clashes between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have persisted despite a peace agreement reached last year. A confirmed Ebola case has also been recorded in Goma, a strategic border city near Rwanda, raising fears of wider regional transmission. Amid growing concern, the United States has raised its travel advisory for DR Congo, South Sudan and Uganda to Level Four, “Do Not Travel.” Washington has also urged Americans to reconsider travel to Rwanda because of the Ebola outbreak. Health experts warn that ongoing conflict, displacement and limited humanitarian access could accelerate the spread of the virus if urgent containment measures fail.
