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Rwanda closes border with DR Congo over deadly Ebola outbreak Rwanda closes border with DRC over deadly Ebola outbreak
(32 minutes later)
Rwanda has closed its border with Democratic Republic of Congo, where a deadly Ebola outbreak that started a year ago has killed more than 1,803 people. Rwanda has closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a deadly Ebola outbreak that started a year ago has killed more than 1,803 people.
The closure came after a second death linked to the Ebola virus was confirmed in the densely populated Congolese city of Goma, which is on the porous border with Rwanda.The closure came after a second death linked to the Ebola virus was confirmed in the densely populated Congolese city of Goma, which is on the porous border with Rwanda.
The World Health Organisation, which declared the DRC outbreak a global health emergency last month, has recommended against travel restrictions. It has also said the risk of regional spread is “very high.” The World Health Organization, which declared the DRC outbreak a global health emergency last month, has recommended against travel or trade restrictions. It has also said the risk of regional spread was “very high”.
The DRC presidency’s office said it regretted what it described as a unilateral decision by the Rwandan authorities to restrict movement at the border, “which runs counter to the advice of the World Health Organisation”. The DRC presidency’s office said it regretted what it described as a unilateral decision by the Rwandan authorities to restrict movement at the border, “which runs counter to the advice of the World Health Organization”.
Earlier on Thursday a DRC official said a person who had contact with the second confirmed Ebola case in Goma is at a treatment centre after showing signs of the disease. Earlier on Thursday, a DRC official said a person who had had contact with the second confirmed Ebola case in Goma was at a treatment centre after showing signs of the disease.
It was not immediately clear whether the person is a family member of the man who died on Wednesday. He had spent several days at home with his family while showing symptoms. It was not immediately clear whether the person was a family member of the man who died on Wednesday. He had spent several days at home with his family while showing symptoms.
If this suspected case is confirmed, it could be the first transmission of Ebola in this outbreak inside Goma, a city of more than 2 million people. If this suspected case is confirmed, it could be the first transmission of Ebola in this outbreak inside Goma, a city of more than 2 million people and a major transport hub that shares the border with the Rwandan city of Gisenyi, which has a population of more than 85,000.
Cross-frontier links are intense. Many people have jobs on the other side of the border while others have homes or put their children in schools in the neighbouring city.
Health experts fear outbreaks of contagious diseases in major cities. In an urban setting, density of population, anonymity and high mobility make it far harder to isolate patients and trace contacts compared to the countryside.
The escalating crisis has led to a row within the DRC’s health ministry, which is co-ordinating national efforts to contain the spread of the virus.The escalating crisis has led to a row within the DRC’s health ministry, which is co-ordinating national efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Last week, DRC’s health minister Olly Ilunga resigned in protest against the country’s handling of the Ebola outbreak. Ilunga said international agencies were pressuring his government to allow the testing of a new vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson. The row over the vaccine trials began after Ilunga banned clinical trials of the new vaccine in DRC, according to Stat News. Last week the DRC’s health minister, Oly Ilunga Kalenga, resigned in protest of the country’s handling of the Ebola outbreak. He said international agencies were pressuring his government to allow the testing of a new vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson. The row over the vaccine trials began after Ilunga reportedly banned clinical trials of the new vaccine in DRC.
Ebola vaccines are difficult to develop because they have to be tested during outbreaks.Ebola vaccines are difficult to develop because they have to be tested during outbreaks.
In the previous outbreak in West Africa, one vaccine, produced by Merck, was successfully trialled in Guinea. The success of that trial meant preventative Merck vaccines could be given to citizens in the DRC and potentially contain the outbreak. In the previous outbreak in west Africa, one vaccine, produced by Merck, was successfully trialled in Guinea. The success of that trial meant preventative Merck vaccines could be given to citizens in the DRC and potentially contain the outbreak.
But Ilunga has argued that trialling vaccines in Ebola-affected regions could erode public trust in the government. Ilunga has argued trialling vaccines in Ebola-affected regions could erode public trust in the government.
Ebola in the DRC: everything you need to knowEbola in the DRC: everything you need to know
Merck’s vaccine requires only a single shot, whereas Johnson& Johnson’s new vaccine has to be taken in two doses. Merck’s vaccine requires only a single shot, whereas Johnson & Johnson’s new vaccine has to be taken in two doses.
Officials and NGOs fear that discrepancies in the vaccination schedules – where some people were getting one shot, while others were getting two – could fuel rumours about the vaccines in local communities. Officials and NGOs fear discrepancies in the vaccination schedules – with some people getting one shot and others two – could fuel rumours about the vaccines in local communities.
Ilunga also said that delivering two doses would be logistically difficult in a region where there is a high rate of displacement and where people frequently travel. Ilunga also said delivering two doses would be logistically difficult in a region where there was a high rate of displacement.
Global developmentGlobal development
Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
RwandaRwanda
EbolaEbola
AfricaAfrica
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