The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that Uganda should reconsider its decision to close its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo because of an Ebola outbreak.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the comments during a visit to an Ebola isolation unit at a hospital in Uganda's capital, Kampala.
In other remarks, Tedros praised the East African country for its Ebola response, calling it prompt and capable.
But when asked by a Reuters reporter about Uganda's decision late last month to temporarily close its border with Congo to limit the spread of Ebola, he said blanket travel restrictions don't work, "so I hope they (Uganda's authorities) reconsider."
The WHO has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.
The epicenter is in Congo's Ituri province, where Africa's top public health agency says there have been 515 confirmed cases, accounting for 95% of Congo's total of 544.
Uganda has reported 19 confirmed Ebola cases, mostly people who entered the country from Congo.
Israel prepares for Ebola
Recently, the Israeli Health Ministry began preparing for a scenario in which a suspected Ebola patient arrives in the country, readying hospitals, medical teams, and public health systems.
According to the ministry, the rapid spread of the virus in the Congo, as well as the arrival of patients in Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, and Germany, has led to increased monitoring and emergency preparations, despite the low risk of an outbreak.
Early patient identification and information sharing with travelers are among the measures discussed by Israeli health officials, as are protective equipment requirements for medical staff, the evacuation of suspected cases, and which hospitals could receive such cases under isolation conditions.
Dr. Itay Gal contributed to this report.