DRC's neighbors boost preparedness as Ebola cases surge
Countries neighboring the Democratic Republic of Congo are increasing border screenings and emergency preparedness due to a surge in Ebola cases. Health officials are concerned about the potential for cross-border transmission as the death toll rises.
Why it matters
Proactive health measures are critical to preventing a regional epidemic and managing the spread of a highly infectious disease.
Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia are strengthening border screening, disease surveillance and emergency response measures. The growing Ebola outbreak in the DRC is raising concerns about cross-border spread.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HQAy Uganda has bolstered its preparedness after confirming at least 20 cases of Ebola Photo/picture alliance Advertisement Countries bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo have stepped up screening at border crossings, trained frontl-ine health workers and activated emergency plans to reduce the risk of imported cases as the DRC battles a growing Ebola outbreak.
On Monday the DRC's Health Ministry reported that at least 930 people have died due to the illness. The DRC has recorded 2,344 cases of Bundibugyo, the virus behind the current outbreak, which the government declared on May 15. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that the number of cases could be up to four times higher than what is known .
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in