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 considerations 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 way of third nations if they’ve stayed in Kenya or some other nation experiencing an energetic Ebola outbreak throughout the 21 days previous their arrival.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) introduced the measures in a press release printed 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 nations thought of 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, mentioned the well being scenario 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 extra preventive measures as needed.
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 considerations 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 had been ongoing.
The company mentioned laboratory exams had been being performed to decide whether or not they had contracted the virus.
However, it cautioned that being labeled as suspected circumstances doesn’t imply the people had examined optimistic for Ebola, stressing that affirmation would rely upon laboratory outcomes.
The NCDC didn’t disclose the states the place the suspected circumstances had been recognized.
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