Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is strengthening health measures to protect nearby communities and endangered mountain gorillas as Ebola cases continue to emerge. The park launched an initial six-month emergency response after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak in the DRC and neighbouring Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May.

The park has set up six health checkpoints within and around its 300km protected forest area and deployed 40 paramedics with 80 rangers. Road checkpoints provide handwashing, temperature screening and first-level isolation centres. In Ituri province, checkpoints north and south of Bunia screen travellers from Ebola-affected areas, while the park has supplied health services with protective equipment, body bags, thermometers and vehicles.

Officials said two suspected cases were detected at checkpoints and referred to public health authorities for monitoring. Data collected there is sent to the Congolese National Institute of Public Health. Conservation teams are also monitoring gorilla health and screening visitors, as mountain gorillas are susceptible to human infectious diseases. No mountain gorilla has been infected with Ebola in Virunga or elsewhere in the DRC, according to veterinarian Eddy Syaluha.