Saudi Arabia has suspended travel by its residents to Kenya and halted the issuance of visas to travellers arriving from the East African nation as issues develop over the unfold of the Ebola virus throughout elements of Africa.
The restrictions additionally prohibit entry into the Kingdom for travellers arriving straight from Kenya or by third nations if they’ve stayed in Kenya or some other nation experiencing an lively Ebola outbreak inside the 21 days previous their arrival.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) introduced the measures in an announcement revealed on its official X account, saying they adopted epidemiological assessments by the nation’s well being authorities.
According to the company, the measures are meant to mitigate the dangers related to the Ebola outbreak and shield the well being of residents, residents and guests.
The restrictions construct on preventive protocols launched by the Kingdom in July 2019 and strengthened in May 2026 for travellers arriving from nations thought-about liable to Ebola outbreaks.
In June, Saudi Arabia additionally suspended travel to and arrivals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan, whereas strengthening surveillance and screening at its entry factors for travellers arriving from neighbouring nations.
The Kingdom’s Public Health Authority, often known as Weqaya, stated the well being state of affairs inside Saudi Arabia remained reassuring and below fixed surveillance.
It added that it was monitoring regional and worldwide epidemiological developments in coordination with related well being companies and would implement further preventive measures as mandatory.
Spread throughout Africa
The restrictions come amid the continued Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which was first declared within the DRC in May 2026.
The outbreak has since spread past the DRC, with imported instances reported in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria, in addition to France.
According to the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 28 October, the DRC had recorded 10,274 confirmed instances and 4,992 deaths.
Kenya had reported 9 confirmed instances, together with two deaths, whereas Uganda recorded 20 instances and two deaths. Nigeria had one confirmed case, with no deaths recorded.
The unfold of the virus past the DRC has heightened issues amongst well being authorities about cross-border transmission and the necessity to strengthen surveillance and early detection.
Ebola in Nigeria
Nigeria’s Ebola response has additionally entered a brand new part following the identification of two suspected instances within the North-east.
READ ALSO: UPDATED: Ebola: Nigeria reports two new suspected cases in North-east
On Saturday, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced that the 2 people had been remoted, whereas contact identification and itemizing have been ongoing.
The company stated laboratory assessments have been being carried out to decide whether or not they had contracted the virus.
However, it cautioned that being categorised as suspected instances doesn’t imply the people had examined optimistic for Ebola, stressing that affirmation would depend upon laboratory outcomes.
The NCDC didn’t disclose the states the place the suspected instances have been recognized.
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