Ebola Deaths in Congo Pass 5,000, With More Than 10,000 Infected and Alerts in Neighbouring Countries

Deaths from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have passed 5,000. More than 10,000 people have been infected. Authorities have still not been able to take effective measures to control what is described as the most severe outbreak in the country's history.

According to Qatar-based Al Jazeera, more than 10,000 people in Congo have been infected with Ebola since the outbreak was declared in May. The infection is also spreading to neighbouring countries, and alerts have been issued in various African countries.

The rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is responsible for this outbreak. There is still no approved specific treatment or effective preventive for use against this strain.

Delayed detection of symptoms, internal armed conflict and a weak health system have allowed the virus to spread rapidly this time. Infection has already spread to eight of Congo's 26 provinces.

The infection has reached beyond the country's borders into neighbouring states as well. Last week Nigeria became the fourth African country where an Ebola patient was identified. Patients had earlier been identified in Kenya and Uganda in East Africa.

This year's outbreak is being considered the second largest in history. A larger Ebola outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016. At that time more than 28,600 people were infected in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and more than 11,000 people died.

To prevent the spread of the virus, various countries are imposing travel restrictions and quarantine measures on travellers coming from affected areas. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saudi Arabia on Friday imposed a temporary ban on entry from Kenya and on travel to that country.

Under the new rules, Saudi citizens have been banned from travelling to Kenya. All types of visas for citizens coming from Kenya have also been suspended. No traveller from that country is being allowed to enter Saudi Arabia.

The ban will also apply to travellers arriving in Saudi Arabia via a third country if they stayed in Kenya or another Ebola-affected country within the previous 21 days. Earlier, in June, Riyadh had imposed a ban on travel to Saudi Arabia from DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan and on entry of passengers from those countries.