Ebola crisis: Pain for region as trade, tourism hard hit by border closures
A Uganda People's Defence Force officer directs travellers at the Mpondwe border post after Uganda closed its frontier with the Democratic Republic of Congo to contain the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, in Kasese District, on May 28, 2026.
The 17th Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has placed the health authorities in a quandary: Containing a deadly virus christened Bundibugyo galloping through a population in an area plagued by armed conflict, impassable roads and massive population movement. The situation presents a logistical nightmare to healthcare workers and authorities, in the face of financial and security challenges.
Currently, 11 health zones in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces are affected by the latest outbreak, as the deathtoll passed 223, with 1,077 reported infections, according to the latest data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
