Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni asked EU leaders for stricter border controls in response to Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. A letter to EU leaders requested that border management be placed on the agenda for an EU council meeting on June 18–19. The request called for enhanced coordination of border surveillance using common rules for managing direct and indirect arrivals from affected areas, while respecting national health prerogatives. Meloni also requested a videoconference of EU health ministers as early as next week. Italy ordered targeted health surveillance and monitoring protocols for travelers returning from the two countries and planned to send infectious-disease experts from Spallanzani Hospital to Kinshasa with technical assistance, medicine, and supplies.
"The aim is to call for, with full respect for national prerogatives in the field of health protection, enhanced coordination of border surveillance through common rules for managing direct and indirect arrivals from the affected areas."
"Since an Ebola outbreak was declared in DRC on May 15, the World Health Organization has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in the central African country, out of more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases, according to its latest figures up to May 24."
"Neighbouring Uganda has recorded one confirmed death and six additional cases. The WHO has warned that the true spread of the outbreak is likely much wider."
"Italy has already ordered the activation of "targeted health surveillance and monitoring protocols" for travellers returning from the two African countries. A team of experts from Rome's Spallanzani Hospital, which specialises in infectious diseases, will also be sent this weekend to Kinshasa to provide technical assistance and deliver medicine and supplies, the government said."
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