Kenya threatens to escalate Saudi travel ban to Africa CDC

NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 31 -.Lenya has threatened to escalate its concerns over Saudi Arabia’s suspension of travel from the country to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

In a diplomatic protest dated October 30, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs described the restrictions imposed over the Ebola outbreak ‘as disproportionate and potentially harmful to Kenya’s economic and diplomatic interests.’

The Ministry headed by Musalia Mudavadi says it will work with other affected African countries to present the matter to Africa CDC, arguing that restrictions not supported by scientific evidence could set a concerning precedent for the continent.

Kenya is also demanding that Saudi Arabia review and lift the measures, which include suspending visa issuance to Kenyans and barring travellers who have been in Kenya within the previous 21 days.

The Ministry maintains that the outbreak has been contained, with all nine confirmed infections linked to a single cluster and no new cases reported since October 19.

It has further challenged Saudi Arabia to submit scientific justification for the restrictions to the World Health Organization under Regulation 43 of the International Health Regulations (2005).

Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Health says Kenya has contained the Ebola outbreak, with seven patients still receiving treatment expected to be discharged on November 3.

“All nine confirmed infections are linked to one cluster originating from an imported case, with no evidence of community transmission,” the diplomatic communication to Saudi Arabia read.

The Ministry insisted that all secondary cases were already in quarantine when they developed symptoms, while all 135 identified contacts have been traced and monitored.

“46 contacts are expected to complete quarantine on November 3, provided they continue testing negative,” the ministry added, “no new infection has been reported since October 19, with the World Health Organization assessing the risk outside”

The update comes amid a diplomatic dispute with Saudi Arabia following its decision to suspend travel from Kenya and stop issuing visas over concerns about the outbreak.

Kenya has challenged the restrictions, maintaining that they are not supported by the epidemiological situation in the country.