Ebola - Latest News Update, Information, Photos & Videos on Ebola at Lokmat Times

Saudi Arabia has suspended issuing visas to pilgrims from the Democratic Republic of the Congo over fears that Ebola could spread during next month's Hajj pilgrimage there.The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday announced the decision in a note cited by Al Jazeera, saying, "The granting of arrivals visas for people entering from DRC has been stopped, to conserve the well-being of pilgrims."The suspension came after the World Health Orgsation (WHO) declared that the Ebola outbreak in Congo's eastern North Kivu and Ituri provinces a public health emergency of international concern.It was not clear how many people's applications had been affected by the move.About three per cent of Congo's population is Muslim who had planned to take part in the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia next month.Riyadh's move came despite the World Health Orgsation saying at the time of its international emergency declaration that no country should close its borders or place any restrictions on travel or trade because of Ebola and urging governments elsewhere in Africa and around the world not to "pc" in response to the decision.The epidemic has killed more than 1,700 people - more than two-thirds of those who contracted it - since it emerged last August, according to the Congo's health ministry. It is the second-worst outbreak of its kind on record.The Kingdom also suspended pilgrimage visas for travellers from Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia - the three worst-affected countries.Saudi Arabia also suspended visas during West Africa's Ebola outbreak a few years ago in which more than 11,000 people died.( With inputs from ANI )

Home

City

Latest News

Cricket

LT Premium

National

International

Maharashtra

Opinions

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Nagpur

Entertainment

Photos

Business

Technology

Sports

Lifestyle

Social Viral

Lokmat Games

Health

Pahalgam Terror Attack

Tahawwur Rana

IPL 2025

CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai Local

Weather Update

EbolaFOLLOW

Ebola, Latest News

International :Ebola like Marbug virus kills 9 at Equatorial Guinea,alert issued

Nine people have died in Equatorial Guinea from an "outbreak" of the Marburg virus, which causes a hemorrhagic fever ... ...

Health :Marburg virus after Corona, WHO warns it can become an epidemic

International :Medical expert who discovered Ebola issues warning of a new virus called 'Disease X'

A new deadly virus - Disease X, is set to hit mankind, and this has been revealed by the ... ...

National :Our successes in space exploration should be mirrored in new frontier of deep sea: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stated that India's success in space exploration should now be "mirrored in the new frontier of the deep sea." ...

International :Saudi Arabia suspends visas to pilgrims from Congo fearing spread of Ebola

Saudi Arabia has suspended issuing visas to pilgrims from the Democratic Republic of the Congo over fears that Ebola could spread during next month's Hajj pilgrimage there. ...