Uganda has asked the African Union to consider deploying its standby peacekeeping and humanitarian force against an Ebola outbreak, Semafor reported on Friday. The outbreak has killed nearly 5,000 people in DR Congo.
Uganda made the call at a meeting of health officials from 45 African countries. The officials had come together to coordinate a continent-wide response to the outbreak.
According to Semafor, the virus has infected more than 10,000 people in DR Congo. It has killed nearly 5,000 people there. The outbreak has now spread to Kenya and Nigeria.
Semafor reported that the virus has spread further across Africa than in any previous Ebola outbreak. Cases have now been recorded in the continent's central, eastern and western regions.
Uganda's health minister addressed the summit on Wednesday. He said AU personnel could provide medical and logistical support. He added that they could help ease a shortage of health workers. He called on leaders to hold an emergency meeting to decide on financing and deployment. Semafor did not name the minister.
Officials at the meeting agreed on several joint steps, Semafor reported. They will strengthen cross-border surveillance and share information. They also agreed to keep borders open.
The decision to keep borders open matters for neighbouring countries, including Kenya, where the virus has already been reported. Any AU deployment would also shape how the region responds to the outbreak.
The sources do not say whether the AU has responded to Uganda's request. They also do not say when an emergency meeting of leaders might take place. It is not yet clear how a deployment would be financed or how large it would be.