Namibia’s transport and logistics sector is on heightened alert as the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda escalates into an international public health emergency, raising fears over cross-border transmission along Southern Africa’s key trade routes.
In response to the outbreak, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) has issued an urgent precautionary notice to transporters, logistics operators, truck drivers, clearing agents, warehouse operators and border agencies operating along the Walvis Bay Corridors, warning that increased regional cargo and passenger movement could potentially expose corridor communities and operations to health risks.
WBCG Acting Chief Executive Officer Edward Shivute on Wednesday stressed that trade and transport activities along the Walvis Bay Corridors remain fully operational for now but warned that industry stakeholders must remain vigilant.
“At this stage, transport and trade activities along the Walvis Bay Corridors continue to operate normally. However, industry stakeholders are advised to remain alert and continuously observe precautionary measures while monitoring official updates from the relevant health authorities within the region,” Shivute said.
He added that transport operators are being encouraged to make use of WBCG roadside wellness clinics situated along the corridors to strengthen awareness, prevention and early detection efforts.
“The WBCG remains committed to supporting safe and efficient corridor operations while working closely with government institutions, development partners, regional partners, port authorities and corridor stakeholders to promote preparedness and coordinated response measures where necessary,” said Shivute.
The logistics management organisation is urging companies to intensify hygiene and sanitation measures at truck stops, warehouses, ports, border posts and operational sites. Drivers and logistics personnel are being encouraged to frequently wash and sanitise their hands, avoid contact with potentially infected individuals, and immediately report symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, bleeding and severe weakness.
The warning has placed Namibia’s public health authorities on alert amid growing concern that Southern Africa’s interconnected transport corridors could become vulnerable if infections spread deeper into the region. The Walvis Bay Corridors are comprised of an integrated system of roads and rail networks linking the Port of Walvis to landlocked Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. The corridors are managed by the WBCG, a public-private partnership established in 2000. One of the key routes on the network is the Walvis Bay–Ndola–Lubumbashi Development Corridor (WBNLDC) that links the Port of Walvis Bay to Zambia and the DRC.
The WBCG’s precautionary notice came after the World Health Organisation formally declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 16 May, citing rising infections, deaths among healthcare workers and increasing regional spread linked to cross-border movement.
According to WHO figures, the outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already resulted in hundreds of suspected infections and a rapidly climbing death toll in eastern DRC, while confirmed imported cases have also been detected in Kampala, Uganda. Health officials fear the true scale of the outbreak may be far larger than currently reported.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus this week warned that the outbreak’s speed and geographic spread are deeply concerning, particularly as there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain.
In addition, international concern intensified further after an American doctor infected while working in the DRC was evacuated to Germany for treatment, underscoring fears that the outbreak could increasingly spread through international travel and medical evacuation networks.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health and Social Services spokesperson Walter Kamaya has said that Namibia is actively monitoring the evolving situation through a multi-sectoral surveillance system involving local and international partners.
“Namibia’s public health system is well equipped to detect, investigate, and respond to possible public health emergencies, including outbreaks if they occur,” said Kamaya. The ministry emphasised that no Ebola cases have been detected in Namibia or neighbouring countries linked to the Walvis Bay Corridors, but authorities remain on high alert because of the region’s extensive trade and passenger movement.
The outbreak’s location in eastern DRC has intensified global concern because the affected Ituri province is a highly mobile mining and commercial zone with significant cross-border movement into Uganda and other regional markets. WHO has warned that conflict, humanitarian displacement and porous borders are complicating containment efforts.
Health experts said Ebola symptoms can initially resemble common illnesses, making early detection difficult. Symptoms include fever, severe headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
The Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, including blood, sweat, vomit and urine. WHO has stressed that strict hygiene measures, rapid isolation of patients and safe burial practices remain critical to slowing transmission. Although WHO currently assesses the global risk as low, it warned that the regional threat remains high due to continued population movement and the absence of a licensed vaccine.