Authorities in Rwanda have intensified border security and public health measures as fears grow over a worsening Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The outbreak, linked to the rare and highly dangerous Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has already claimed at least 131 lives, with more than 531 suspected infections reported across eastern Congo. The growing health crisis prompted the World Health Organization to declare the situation an international public health emergency.
At major border crossings near the Congolese city of Goma, Rwandan health officials have stepped up temperature checks, medical screenings and surveillance of travellers entering the country. Authorities say the measures are aimed at preventing the virus from crossing into Rwanda and spreading further across East Africa.
The Rwandan government has also tightened restrictions on cross-border movement, especially in communities that depend heavily on trade between both countries. Residents in Rubavu district, which borders Congo, say the restrictions are already hurting businesses and slowing economic activities.
Local trader Nsengiyaremye Kigendi said transport delays and restrictions are making it difficult for traders to move goods normally across the border. Another resident, Twiringirimana Daniel, explained that traders are now forced to hand over goods at the border to transporters on the Congolese side, leading to financial losses and reduced profits.
Health experts say the outbreak is particularly concerning because it involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment. The strain previously caused deadly outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and in Congo in 2012, with fatality rates estimated between 30 and 50 percent.
The latest outbreak is centred in Ituri Province in northeastern Congo, an area already devastated by years of armed conflict, humanitarian crises and mass displacement. Medical response teams are facing major challenges accessing affected communities because of persistent violence from armed groups operating in the region.
The outbreak’s epicentre, Mongbwalu, is reportedly under the control of the CODECO militia, while attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, a group linked to the Islamic State, continue in nearby territories. Further south, clashes between Congolese troops and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group have continued despite a peace agreement reached last year.
Health officials have also confirmed an Ebola case in Goma, a densely populated commercial hub near the Rwandan border. The development has heightened fears of rapid regional transmission because of the city’s strategic location and heavy cross-border movement.
Amid rising concern, the United States has issued a Level Four travel advisory urging citizens not to travel to Congo, South Sudan and Uganda. Washington also advised Americans to reconsider travel to Rwanda due to the Ebola threat.
International health experts warn that continued conflict, weak healthcare systems and limited humanitarian access could further complicate efforts to contain the virus, increasing the risk of a wider regional outbreak across Central and East Africa.
