Ugandan authorities ordered the immediate closure of their border with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday as cases of a rare type of Ebola continue to surge in the neighboring country. The decision was made by a local Ebola task force led by Vice President Jesca Alupo following an increase in Ugandan health workers being exposed to the virus by Congolese patients who crossed the border.

The outbreak, which was officially declared on May 15, involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Health authorities in Congo struggled with initial identification as tests were initially conducted for a more common type of the virus, causing delays in confirmation. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, noting that the response efforts are being outpaced by the virus's spread.

Congo's health ministry reported Tuesday that 101 cases have been confirmed, with nearly 1,000 suspected cases and at least 220 suspected deaths. Health officials are monitoring over 3,000 possible contacts. The outbreak response faces significant challenges including threats from armed groups in eastern Congo, large numbers of displaced people, and poor infrastructure in the affected region.

Uganda has reported seven confirmed Ebola cases, including a 59-year-old man who died in the capital Kampala on May 14. While Uganda's case numbers remain relatively low, the number of health workers exposed to the virus through treating Congolese patients has been increasing. Dr. Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of Uganda's Ministry of Health, noted that exposed health workers "have families, and so the number has been increasing."

The World Health Organization has opposed border closures, stating in its emergency declaration that "no country should close its borders or place any restrictions on travel and trade." The WHO argued that such measures "are usually implemented out of fear and have no basis in science" and may push movement to informal, unmonitored border crossings that could increase disease spread.

Travel across the Congo-Uganda border will now be authorized only for emergency cases, including Ebola response efforts, cargo transport, or security reasons. The border between the two countries spans several hundred miles and includes numerous informal crossing points beyond official border posts, presenting ongoing challenges for containment efforts.