The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has surpassed 5,000, as health authorities struggle to contain the disease, which has infected more than 10,000 people since May 2026.
Government figures released on Friday showed that fatalities from the outbreak had exceeded the 5,000 mark, making it the deadliest Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the country.
The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has spread to eight of the country’s 26 provinces, with delayed detection, armed conflict and pressure on healthcare services hampering containment efforts.
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The outbreak has also spread beyond DR Congo, with Kenya and Nigeria reporting infections, while Uganda had earlier recorded cases before declaring the end of its outbreak in August.
Saudi Arabia Restricts Travel From Kenya
Saudi Arabia has suspended travel to and entry from Kenya as part of measures to prevent the spread of Ebola.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the restrictions announced on Friday prohibit Saudi citizens from travelling to Kenya and suspend the issuance of all categories of visas to travellers from the country.
The measures also bar entry to travellers arriving from Kenya, including those transiting through third countries, who have stayed in Kenya or other Ebola-affected countries within the preceding 21 days.
The latest restrictions follow similar measures introduced by Saudi Arabia in June against travel to and entry from DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
The current outbreak is the second-largest Ebola epidemic recorded globally, after the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which infected more than 28,600 people and caused over 11,000 deaths in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Al Jazeera
