Ebola: Rwanda, Congo Restrict Unnecessary Border Travel

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In their bids to curtail spread of Ebola virus from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring African countries, government of Rwanda and Congo have agreed to restrict unnecessary across-the-border movement.

Last week, Rwandan government closed its borer with Congo and reopened it after a backlash from Congo government.

The two East African countries are discouraging travel across their border, as officials try to prevent further spread of the highly contagious Ebola virus.

Travel restrictions are part of measures taken by Rwandan and Congolese health officials who met in Rwanda late on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued at the end of the meeting, people traveling across the border for non-essential reasons such as attending workshops and religious crusades will need clearance from both governments.

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has killed more than 1,800 people.

Rwanda briefly closed its border with Congo last week after a patient tested positive for Ebola in Goma, a Congolese city of more than 2 million people about 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) from Rwanda’s main border town of Gisenyi.