Rwanda,Congo Restrict Travel Amid Ebola

KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) -- Rwanda and Congo are discouraging travel across their border, as officials try to prevent further spread of the highly contagious Ebola virus.

Travel restrictions are part of measures taken by Rwandan and Congolese health officials who met in Rwanda late on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued at the end of the meeting, people traveling across the border for non-essential reasons such as attending workshops and religious crusades will need clearance from both governments.

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo has killed more than 1,800 people.

Rwanda briefly closed its border with Congo last week after a patient tested positive for Ebola in Goma, a Congolese city of more than 2 million people about 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) from Rwanda's main border town of Gisenyi.

(KR)