Congo Ebola deaths top 5,000 as cases reach Nigeria

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has passed 5,000, government data released on Friday confirmed. Authorities have yet to contain the virus, which has become the deadliest outbreak in the country's history. More than 10,000 people have been infected since the outbreak was declared in May.

The strain causing this outbreak is the rare Bundibugyo type. No approved treatments or vaccines currently exist for this specific virus. Health officials cite delayed detection, ongoing conflict, and strained health services as factors that allowed the virus to spread faster than in previous outbreaks. The disease has reached eight of the DRC's 26 provinces.

The outbreak has extended beyond the DRC's borders. Kenya and Uganda in East Africa have reported cases. Nigeria became the fourth African country to report an infection last week, marking the first cases in West Africa. This year's outbreak is the second largest ever recorded, following only the 2014 to 2016 epidemic that infected over 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000 across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Several governments have responded with travel restrictions. Some nations are quarantining travelers who recently visited or transited through affected areas. Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and entry from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan in June. On Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the kingdom also suspended travel to and entry from Kenya.

The Saudi measures include a pause on issuing all types of visas to travelers from Kenya. The country is also prohibiting entry for anyone arriving from Kenya. This ban applies to travelers who have stayed in Kenya or other Ebola-affected countries within the previous 21 days, including those transiting through third countries.