Africa CDC is calling for a review of Saudi Arabia’s travel restrictions on Kenya.
Africa CDC says Kenya has contained the outbreak and urges Saudi Arabia to replace blanket restrictions with evidence-based health measures.
Africa CDC has urged Saudi Arabia to lift Ebola travel restrictions on Kenya, warning they could undermine outbreak reporting and cooperation.
Director General Dr Jean Kaseya said Kenya had made significant progress in containing the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. He said authorities had recorded no new confirmed infections since October 19, with no evidence of sustained community transmission.
Saudi Arabia introduced the measures on October 30 to protect its citizens, residents and visitors. They suspend travel by Saudi citizens to Kenya and halt visa issuance to Kenyan travellers.
The restrictions also cover travellers who visited Kenya or another Ebola-affected country within 21 days before arriving in the Kingdom.
Kenya’s response to Ebola travel restrictions
Kaseya said five patients who previously tested positive were due for discharge after receiving negative PCR results. Meanwhile, another 46 people had completed the mandatory 21-day quarantine period.
Kenya has recorded nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, Africa CDC said. The agency linked all infections to a single imported case. It also said contact tracing, monitoring, laboratory testing and infection prevention measures remained in place.
The appeal follows Kenya’s protest against the Saudi measures. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has described them as excessive and inconsistent with the country’s outbreak situation.
Duale has also maintained that the outbreak remains within an identified cluster. He said health authorities had traced all 135 identified contacts.
Africa CDC calls for consistent health standards
Kaseya argued that detecting an imported case does not automatically signal a failure in a country’s health security system. Instead, he urged recognition of transparency, early detection and effective containment.
He also cited a recent imported Ebola case in France, calling for consistent international health standards. Restrictions, he said, should reflect scientific evidence, proportionality and transparency rather than fear.
Africa CDC warned that broad travel and visa controls could disrupt trade, economic activity and family ties. Such measures could also discourage countries from reporting outbreaks promptly.
The agency therefore urged Saudi Arabia to review the restrictions with Kenya, Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation. It supported retaining necessary public health measures backed by scientific evidence.
As alternatives to blanket restrictions, Africa CDC proposed targeted screening, surveillance, contact tracing, isolation and cross-border cooperation. Kaseya also called for greater financial and technical support, arguing that transparent reporting should attract cooperation rather than punishment.
