Authorities in Rubavu District have tightened border controls with the Democratic Republic of the Congo following growing concerns over a new Ebola outbreak reported in eastern Congo.

Currently, only Rwandan citizens returning home and Congolese nationals going back to their country are allowed to cross the border after undergoing health screening. Authorities have also deployed security personnel along illegal crossing routes commonly known as “panya” paths to prevent unauthorized movement.

Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa confirmed the temporary restrictions and urged residents to cooperate with the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

“We ask residents to understand and respect these measures because they are in the interest of everyone’s safety,” he said.

Mulindwa stressed that no Ebola case had been detected in Rwanda so far, adding that the measures are purely preventive.

The latest Ebola outbreak has been reported in Ituri Province in eastern DR Congo, where at least 80 people have reportedly died and more than 240 others infected. Authorities also fear the virus could have reached the city of Goma, a densely populated border city neighboring Rwanda, prompting stronger containment efforts.