Kampala: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has called on governments and partners to urgently bolster cross-border coordination to address the Ebola outbreak currently affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The UN agency emphasized the risks associated with border closures, which may inadvertently drive movement underground, thereby increasing the potential for transmission. According to Anadolu Agency, the latest figures from the Health Ministry indicate that confirmed Ebola cases in the Congo have surpassed 300, with the death toll rising to 48. In Uganda, there have been 15 confirmed cases and one reported death thus far. IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, Ugochi Daniels, highlighted the need for a coordinated response, stating, "Viruses do not stop at borders, and neither should our response." Daniels further explained that border closures often lead to people using informal routes where health screening and surveillance are minimal, underscoring the importance of a visible and monitored mobility strategy. In response to the outbreak, several countries, including Canada and the US, have imposed travel restrictions and visa suspensions on residents from the affected regions of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. Rwanda and Uganda, both bordering Congo, have similarly limited travel from their neighbor. The IOM cautioned that reactive border closures could undermine health screening, surveillance, contact tracing, and early detection efforts by reducing the visibility of population movements. The agency's data from flow monitoring at key crossing points indicates that cross-border mobility persists despite restrictions, often through informal routes. The current Ebola outbreak, declared on May 15, is the 17th recorded in Congo and is noted as the third largest on record. This recurrence underscores the necessity for sustained preparedness and coordinated action to effectively manage and contain the disease's spread.