OMM Newsroom
Saudi Arabia announced additional precautionary measures against Ebola on Friday, including suspending travel to and entry from Kenya, Anadolu Agency reported, citing the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The measures followed an assessment of the epidemiological situation by health authorities. They include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya and stopping the issuance of all types of visas to travellers from the East African country.
Saudi Arabia will also bar travellers arriving from Kenya, including those transiting through third countries who have stayed in Kenya or other Ebola-affected countries during the 21 days before arrival.
The restrictions are part of preventive measures introduced in 2019 and strengthened this May for travellers arriving from countries considered at risk of an Ebola outbreak, SPA reported.
In June, Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and entry from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
The kingdom has also strengthened preventive measures for arrivals from countries neighbouring Ebola-affected areas. These include screening at entry points, epidemiological investigations and early health response mechanisms.
The Saudi Public Health Authority, known as Weqaya, said the country’s public health situation remains reassuring and is under continuous monitoring.
It added that authorities are closely tracking epidemiological developments regionally and internationally and coordinating with relevant agencies to implement preventive measures as needed.
Ebola is a severe viral disease that spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected people. It can cause fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
