Saudi Arabia has barred travellers from Kenya from entering the kingdom as a precaution against Ebola. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced the measures on Friday. The ban covers people arriving directly from Kenya. It also applies to people coming through third countries if they spent time in Kenya, or in any other country with an Ebola outbreak, in the previous 21 days.
Riyadh has also suspended travel by its citizens to Kenya and stopped issuing all categories of visas to Kenyan travellers. According to the Saudi Gazette, the measures followed an assessment of the epidemiological situation by Saudi health authorities. They aim to reduce the risk of the virus reaching the kingdom. The Saudi Public Health Authority, known as Weqaya, said the country's health situation was stable and under continuous monitoring.
Nairobi has pushed back. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale questioned the basis for the decision, The Eastleigh Voice reported. He said Kenya had contained the infections linked to its first imported case. He added that there was no evidence of transmission beyond that group. According to The Star, Duale said Kenya needed "support, not isolation". The Standard reported that the government called the restrictions excessive and demanded an immediate review. The Kenya News Agency said the government was engaging Saudi Arabia on the matter.
Kenya has recorded nine cases and two deaths, according to The Standard. The Ministry of Health says the situation is stable and under control. It says there have been no new infections in more than 10 days. All nine cases are linked to a single cluster around an infected traveller from the DRC. There has been no community transmission. The first 20 traced contacts have completed their 21-day quarantine. The remaining 98 are due to be released in phases from next week.
Across Africa, the outbreak has passed 10,000 confirmed cases and 5,030 deaths. The DRC accounts for 10,351 cases and 5,026 deaths. Uganda has reported 20 cases and two deaths, and Nigeria is monitoring one imported case. Saudi Arabia imposed similar restrictions on the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan in June, the Nation reported.
Other countries have also acted on travellers from Kenya. El Salvador has declared people arriving from or transiting through eight African countries, including Kenya, inadmissible. Since October 20, South Korea has required extra quarantine checks for arrivals from Kenya. On October 19, the United States raised its travel advisory for Kenya to Level 3. That advisory also cites terrorism, crime and civil unrest. The Nation noted that the World Health Organisation has advised governments against closing borders over the outbreak.