Uganda Closes Border with Congo as Rare Ebola Outbreak Spreads

Uganda closed its border with Congo on Wednesday to stop the spread of a deadly virus called Ebola. Congo is fighting a dangerous outbreak of a rare type of Ebola that has made nearly 1,000 people sick. Seven people in Uganda have already gotten sick after Ugandan doctors and nurses treated patients from Congo. The border will stay closed except for emergencies.

This type of Ebola is called Bundibugyo, and it is very dangerous. There are no medicines or vaccines that work against this kind of Ebola virus. The World Health Organization usually tells countries not to close their borders during disease outbreaks. However, Uganda decided to close its border anyway because they are worried about the virus spreading to more people.

Dr. Diana Atwine works for Uganda's health department. She told reporters that the border closure started right away and is temporary. People can only cross the border in emergencies, like for medical help or to bring important supplies. Anyone who does cross from Congo must stay alone in isolation for 21 days to make sure they don't have the virus.

Ebola spreads when people touch the blood or other body fluids of someone who is sick or has died from the disease. Doctors, nurses, and family members who take care of Ebola patients have the highest risk of getting infected. The virus causes a disease called hemorrhagic fever, which makes people very sick with bleeding and fever. Health workers try to find and isolate people who have been exposed to stop the spread.

In eastern Congo, health officials have confirmed that 101 people have the virus. They think nearly 1,000 people might be infected, and at least 220 people have died. Health workers are trying to find over 3,000 people who might have been exposed to the virus. On Wednesday, the first person to recover from this outbreak was allowed to go home from the treatment center.