Seeking to head off Ebola at its doorstep, authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have banned mass gatherings in the capital, Kinshasa, and in the provinces of Tshopo, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele. No infections have been confirmed in Kinshasa, but officials warn the virus could spread from the hard-hit eastern provinces, where cases have climbed to 1,274 and deaths to 360.
The decision has sparked a swift political backlash. Opposition groups accuse the government of hiding behind public health measures to thwart a planned protest against a proposed law, alleging the move could clear a path for President Felix Tshisekedi to remain in office beyond the Constitutional limit.
The outbreak, tied to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola for which no vaccine has been approved, has also reached Uganda. Health authorities caution that ongoing conflict in eastern Congo is hampering containment efforts, from contact tracing to safe burials.
