South Sudan has stepped up Ebola preparedness along its porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, activating emergency screening and deploying surveillance teams to 15 high-risk counties as the neighbouring Bundibugyo outbreak surpasses 2,300 deaths.
The Ministry of Health announced enhanced monitoring at five major points of entry, including Nimule and Juba, while dedicated Infectious Disease Units have been established in Juba, Nimule, Yei and Yambio to isolate any confirmed cases should the virus cross into South Sudan.
Porous Borders and Mass Displacement Heighten Risk
Health officials warned that years of conflict and humanitarian displacement have left South Sudan dangerously exposed to cross-border transmission. “The risk of an outbreak in South Sudan remains relatively high because of transit populations and borders with DRC and Uganda,” said Ministry of Health Undersecretary Dr Oromo Francis.
Acting WHO Representative Dr Moses Ongom echoed those concerns, noting that cross-border trade and movement between South Sudan, DRC and Uganda create persistent vectors for importation. Despite the risks, authorities said they would not close border crossings, citing International Health Regulations that prohibit such measures.
“According to the International Health Regulations, we do not close the borders. If you close them, people will simply use unofficial routes and they will bring you the disease without you even seeing it.”
– Dr Oromo Francis, Ministry of Health Undersecretary
Surveillance and Community Monitoring
Community health workers in the 15 mapped high-risk counties are conducting daily monitoring for suspected cases, with alerts being triaged through expanded laboratory capacity. Many of the alerts investigated so far have been ruled out as malaria or other infectious diseases after testing.
South Sudan’s preparedness push comes as the DRC Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has killed more than 2,300 people across five provinces, making it the deadliest in the country’s history. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern, while MSF has called for a massive international scale-up of the medical response.
South Sudan shares an extensive and largely unmonitored border with both DRC and Uganda, where the Bundibugyo strain has also been detected. The virus, which has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, presents particular challenges for a country whose own health system was severely weakened by years of civil war.
Sources: Africanews; The Standard; MSF; WHO
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