Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo's Neighbors Boost Preparedness as Ebola Cases Surge

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Deutsche Welle report, said Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia have intensified Ebola preparedness as an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo raises fears of regional spread. The report said border screening, disease surveillance, frontline health-worker training and emergency response plans have been strengthened in neighboring countries as DRC authorities confront rising infections in the east.

According to the report, the DRC Health Ministry said Monday that at least 930 people had died, with 2,344 recorded cases of Bundibugyo Ebola since the outbreak was declared on May 15. The World Health Organization warned that actual infections may be far higher because cases are being missed in conflict-affected areas. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the outbreak as the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record and appealed for donor support to close a response funding gap of more than $400 million.

Zambia’s public health institute said it had reinforced prevention measures and activated provincial emergency centers, despite having no confirmed cases. In Uganda, officials highlighted the western districts of Kisoro, Kanungu and Rukungiri as especially exposed because of their proximity to the DRC. Rwanda has also expanded checks at border crossings and prepared rapid response teams.

The East African Community is coordinating with Africa CDC, WHO and other partners on surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention and rapid response capacity. The report noted that insecurity, displacement and attacks on treatment facilities in eastern DRC are complicating containment. Health experts cited by DW said early detection and regional coordination remain critical, particularly because there is no known vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain.