Rwanda Tightens Border Controls as Deadly Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak Spreads in DR Congo

Rwanda has intensified border health screenings and restricted movement near the DR Congo border as a deadly Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain continues to spread. More than 131 people have died and 531 suspected cases have been reported, while conflict and insecurity in eastern Congo are hampering containment efforts.

Rwandan authorities have significantly strengthened health surveillance measures along the country’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo as concerns grow over a worsening Ebola outbreak linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus. The outbreak, which has already claimed at least 131 lives and resulted in more than 531 suspected infections in eastern Congo, has heightened fears of a wider regional health crisis and prompted intensified preventive actions by neighbouring countries.
The spread of the disease has drawn international attention, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Health officials warn that the combination of a highly mobile population, ongoing conflict and limited healthcare access in affected areas could accelerate transmission if containment efforts are not strengthened.
At major border crossings near the Congolese city of Goma, Rwandan health personnel have been deployed to conduct temperature checks, screen travellers for symptoms and monitor cross-border movement. The screenings are intended to identify potential cases before infected individuals can enter the country and spread the virus further.
Rwanda has also introduced restrictions on movement across parts of the border since confirmation of the outbreak. Authorities say the measures are necessary to protect public health and prevent the virus from gaining a foothold within the country. Health officials continue to encourage residents to report symptoms quickly and avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas.
However, the tighter controls have created economic difficulties for communities that depend heavily on cross-border trade. Residents of Rubavu, which lies directly across the border from Goma, say restrictions have disrupted business activities and reduced income for traders who rely on daily movement between the two countries.
Local trader Nsengiyaremye Kigendi appealed to authorities to find practical solutions that would allow commerce to continue while maintaining health safeguards. He noted that many families depend on cross-border business for their livelihoods and that prolonged restrictions could deepen economic hardship in border communities.
Another resident, Twiringirimana Daniel, explained that traders are increasingly forced to leave their goods at designated border points, where transporters on the Congolese side collect and move them. According to him, the arrangement has increased transportation costs, reduced profits and led to losses for many small-scale traders who already operate on narrow margins.
Health experts are particularly concerned because the current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, one of the less common variants of the disease. Unlike the Zaire strain, for which approved vaccines and treatment options are available, there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment designed for the Bundibugyo variant.
The strain first gained international attention during an outbreak in Uganda in 2007 and later resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2012. Previous outbreaks associated with the strain recorded mortality rates ranging from 30 to 50 percent, making it a serious public health threat despite being less common than other Ebola variants.
The current outbreak is centred in Ituri Province in northeastern Congo, an area that has long struggled with insecurity, displacement and weak healthcare infrastructure. Medical workers face enormous challenges in reaching affected communities, tracing contacts and isolating infected individuals due to difficult terrain and persistent violence.
Containment efforts are further complicated by the presence of multiple armed groups operating across eastern Congo. The outbreak’s epicentre in Mongbwalu is located in territory controlled by the CODECO militia, while nearby regions continue to experience attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an armed group linked to the Islamic State network.
The volatile security situation has restricted humanitarian access to some communities, making it harder for health teams to conduct surveillance, provide treatment and educate residents about prevention measures. Aid agencies warn that insecurity could allow infections to spread undetected into neighbouring districts and across national borders.
Further south, instability continues despite efforts to restore peace. Fighting has persisted between Congolese government forces and the M23 rebel movement, which Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting. Although a peace agreement was signed last year, sporadic clashes and tensions continue to affect several areas of eastern Congo.
The outbreak has become even more concerning following confirmation of an Ebola case in Goma, one of eastern Congo’s most important commercial and transportation hubs. The city, located near the Rwandan border and currently under M23 control, serves as a gateway for regional trade and population movement. Health officials fear that infections in such a densely populated urban centre could significantly increase the risk of wider transmission.
Amid growing concerns, the United States government has strengthened its travel warnings for countries affected by the outbreak. Washington raised its travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Uganda to Level Four, the highest warning category, advising citizens not to travel to those countries because of security and health risks.
American authorities have also urged travellers to reconsider visits to Rwanda due to concerns related to the Ebola outbreak and the possibility of cross-border transmission. Similar advisories may be considered by other countries if the outbreak continues to expand.
Public health specialists stress that rapid detection, strict border screening, community awareness campaigns and international cooperation will be essential to preventing a larger regional crisis. They warn that continued conflict, population displacement and limited humanitarian access could undermine response efforts and allow the virus to spread beyond current hotspots if urgent action is not sustained.