Saudi Arabia suspends travel to three African nations over Ebola Concerns

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced temporary travel restrictions involving three African countries as a precautionary measure against the potential spread of the Ebola virus.

According to Saudi authorities, the Kingdom has temporarily banned its citizens from traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan to safeguard public health and prevent the introduction of infectious diseases.

The Saudi Gazette reported that Saudi Arabia has also suspended the issuance of all types of visas for travelers arriving from these three countries. Entry into the Kingdom has been temporarily halted for individuals coming directly from the affected nations.

The restrictions also apply to travelers arriving through third countries if they have stayed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days before entering Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Health Authority, Weqaya, said the Kingdom’s disease surveillance and emergency response systems remain fully operational.

Officials added that health authorities are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with national and international organizations to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors.

Weqaya also noted that Saudi Arabia had previously implemented additional health screening measures for travelers arriving from neighboring countries affected by Ebola outbreaks, including Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville).

Authorities emphasized that the overall public health situation in Saudi Arabia remains stable, with no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases reported in the Kingdom since 2019.

Ebola virus disease was first identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ebola has an average fatality rate of around 50%, although mortality rates have varied during different outbreaks.