Saudi Arabia has suspended travel to and from Kenya, extending its Ebola-related travel restrictions as the Democratic Republic of the Congo outbreak spreads. The DRC government reports that the death toll has surpassed 5,000 since the outbreak was declared in May, with more than 10,000 people infected. The rare Bundibugyo strain, which has no approved treatments or vaccines, has now reached eight of the DRC's 26 provinces and four African nations, including Nigeria, which reported its first case last week.
The kingdom's latest measures, announced on Friday, include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya, pausing all visa issuance to travellers from the country, and prohibiting entry to travellers arriving from Kenya, including those transiting through third countries who have stayed in Kenya or other Ebola-affected countries within the previous 21 days, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Saudi Arabia had already imposed similar restrictions on the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan in June.
The outbreak is the DRC's deadliest on record and the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever, behind the 2014-2016 epidemic that infected more than 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000 across West Africa. Delayed detection, conflict and strained health services have helped the virus spread more rapidly than in past outbreaks.
Last week, Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case, extending the outbreak's reach to West Africa. Kenya and Uganda have also recorded cases.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The arrival of the virus in Nigeria, a major travel and economic hub, significantly raises the risk of a wider continental and global outbreak.
- Saudi Arabia's travel restrictions reflect growing international concern and could disrupt travel and trade in East Africa.
- The lack of a vaccine and treatment for the Bundibugyo strain places the entire burden of containment on traditional public health measures and international coordination.
Background
The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began in May of this year. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, it has spread to eight of the country's 26 provinces. The outbreak has been exacerbated by conflict, delayed detection and strained health services. It is the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record and has now spread to four African countries: the DRC, Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
What to Watch
- Whether other countries in the Gulf and West Africa follow Saudi Arabia's lead in imposing travel restrictions.
- The scale and speed of the response from international health organisations in Nigeria, given the country's dense population.
- Any updates from health authorities on the search for treatments or vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedThe DRC death toll has surpassed 5,000, according to government data.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The death toll from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has surpassed 5,000, government data show”
- SupportedSaudi Arabia suspended travel to and entry from Kenya on Friday.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “On Friday, Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and entry from Kenya, according to the Saudi Press Agency.”
- SupportedThe Kenya measures widened restrictions Saudi Arabia had already imposed in June on the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In June, Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and entry from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.”
- SupportedThe outbreak has reached West Africa, with Nigeria becoming the fourth African country to report an Ebola case last week.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Last week, Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case , extending the outbreak’s geographic spread to West Africa.”
- SupportedMore than 10,000 people in the DRC have been infected since the outbreak was declared in May.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Ebola has infected more than 10,000 people in the DRC since the outbreak was declared in May.”
- SupportedThe outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “There are no approved treatments or vaccines to combat the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, responsible for the ongoing outbreak.”
- SupportedThe outbreak has reached eight of the DRC’s 26 provinces.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Delayed detection, conflict and strained health services have helped the virus spread more rapidly than in past outbreaks, reaching eight of the DRC’s 26 provinces to date.”
- SupportedThe outbreak has reached four African countries: the DRC, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Last week, Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an Ebola case , extending the outbreak’s geographic spread to West Africa. East African countries Kenya and Uganda have also reported cases.”
- SupportedSaudi Arabia’s measures include suspending Saudi citizens’ travel to Kenya, pausing all visa issuance to travellers from Kenya, and barring entry to travellers arriving from Kenya, including some who transited through third countries.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The measures include suspending travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya and a pause on issuing all types of visas to travellers from the country. The kingdom is also prohibiting entry to travellers arriving from Kenya, including those transiting through third countries”
- SupportedThe entry prohibition covers travellers who stayed in Kenya or other Ebola-affected countries within the previous 21 days.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “who have stayed in Kenya or other Ebola-affected countries within the previous 21 days.”
- SupportedThe DRC outbreak is the country’s deadliest on record and the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever; the 2014–2016 epidemic infected more than 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “country’s deadliest outbreak of the virus on record. / This year’s Ebola outbreak is the second-largest ever, behind only the 2014-2016 epidemic that infected more than 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000 people across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.”
- SupportedDelayed detection, conflict and strained health services have helped the virus spread more rapidly than in past outbreaks.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Delayed detection, conflict and strained health services have helped the virus spread more rapidly than in past outbreaks”
