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 via third international locations if they’ve stayed in Kenya or another nation experiencing an lively Ebola outbreak inside the 21 days previous their arrival.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) introduced the measures in a press release 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 supposed to mitigate the dangers related to the Ebola outbreak and defend 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 international locations thought of prone 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 international locations.
The Kingdom’s Public Health Authority, referred to as Weqaya, stated the well being state of affairs inside Saudi Arabia remained reassuring and underneath 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 vital.
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 circumstances 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 circumstances and 4,992 deaths.
Kenya had reported 9 confirmed circumstances, together with two deaths, whereas Uganda recorded 20 circumstances 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 circumstances 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 circumstances doesn’t imply the people had examined constructive for Ebola, stressing that affirmation would rely on laboratory outcomes.
The NCDC didn’t disclose the states the place the suspected circumstances have been recognized.
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