Virunga National Park Implements Health Measures to Protect Gorillas and Communities from Ebola
Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is intensifying its health measures to protect both local communities and endangered mountain gorillas from the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The park, which is Africa's oldest, has established six health checkpoints and deployed 40 paramedics and 80 rangers as part of its emergency response. These checkpoints are designed to monitor movement and screen for Ebola symptoms, such as fever, among travelers. The park's efforts are part of a broader strategy to contain the virus, which has already claimed over 1,400 lives in the DRC. The park's director-general, Emmanuel de Merode, emphasized the role of Virunga as a natural barrier to the disease, helping to prevent its spread to other regions.