DRC neighbors step up efforts to prevent Ebola spread

By Halima Athumani

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Countries bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo have heightened surveillance in their border regions to prevent the spread of Ebola disease.

Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda have set up checking points at the border posts to ensure suspected cases do not cross over.

In DRC, the Ebola infection was confirmed from tests on a group of people exhibiting symptoms since April 22. Nine cases including three deaths have been reported so far.

The infection was confirmed in the DRC’s northeast province of Bas-Uele, about 1600kms (994 miles) from the Rwandan border.

Rawandan Minister of Health Dr. Diane Gashumba said that they were banning air travel for people who have been in the affected area within the last 22 days.

"We have set up a joint team with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support investigations into the deadly Ebola outbreak.” Gashumba added.

The joint team also includes doctors and Ebola experts from the World Health Organization and Doctors without Borders. Apart from sending in a multidisciplinary team, the WHO is also discussing the need and feasibility of potential Ebola ring vaccination.

In Uganda, Health Ministry’s spokeswoman Vivian Serwanja said that her country has set up a tentative isolation center some 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the border with DRC. She said Uganda is putting restrictions on traveling.

The director-general of Uganda’s health service and health minister of Tanzania have also issued an Ebola alert at the border towns in their respective countries.

On Monday, South Sudanese local officials said they have closed its southern border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as precaution measures against the spread of Ebola, local official said.

* Ivan Nganwa in Rwanda and Peter Saramba in Tanzania contributed to this report.