Rwanda has strengthened border restrictions in Rubavu District amid fears of the Ebola outbreak spreading from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Only Rwandan citizens returning home and Congolese nationals heading back to Congo are currently permitted to cross the border, and all travelers must first undergo health screening procedures.
Authorities have also increased surveillance along illegal border crossing points known locally as “panya” routes to stop unauthorized movement between the two countries.
Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa confirmed the border measures and appealed to residents to avoid using unauthorized paths.
“These measures are meant to protect the population from Ebola. Residents should cooperate and avoid forcing their way through illegal crossings,” he said.
Officials emphasized that Rwanda has not recorded any Ebola case, but authorities are taking precautionary measures following reports of a growing outbreak in Ituri Province.
According to reports, the outbreak has already claimed around 80 lives while more than 240 people are said to have been infected. Concerns are also rising that the disease may have reached Goma, one of the largest cities near the Rwandan border.
