The UAE has taken quick action amid the worsening crisis of Ebola virus outbreak. Authorities have implemented a series of precautionary measures in travel restrictions from three Ebola virus affected countries in central and east Africa.
These measures, however, are not indicative of the Ebola virus being in the UAE. They are a strategic and prospective public health response. The announcement was made Friday, June 5th and will be effective at 1pm on Saturday, June 6th.
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Ebola Virus: The Precautionary Measures
The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) also issued other preventive measures for returnees from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan.
The UAE is implementing a proactive and preventative strategy to strengthen national preparedness and address developments related to the Ebola virus.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously issued an advisory on May 30 about the suspension of the visa. Emiratis have been warned against travelling to Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan for non-essential purposes.
Moreover, Emirati residents in these countries are urged to exercise the maximum caution and follow the health and safety regulations issued by local authorities.
So, the announcement of the visa suspension is not the first move. It is the latest step in a series of precautions that have been taken in the days leading up to now.
What This Means at the Border
The new measures will aim at suspending all new visas for citizens of the three countries, including visit visas. Individuals arriving from the listed countries will not be allowed to enter the UAE, including travellers from other countries who are transiting the UAE.
All travellers who have been outside the countries mentioned for more than 21 days prior to entry to the UAE will be allowed to enter.
Importantly, cargo aircraft flights between UAE and the three countries will remain unaffected by these measures and transit flight operations will remain in operation as usual. The decision is subject to extension depending on the development of the health situation worldwide.
A Broad Regional Response
The UAE is not the only country doing this. Bahrain has imposed a 30-day ban on travelers from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and is blocking entry for anyone who has travelled from one of these countries or South Sudan within the last 30 days.
Jordan has also placed limitations, but its citizens are exempt from the ban. Entry of Bahrainis citizens who come from the countries listed above will be subject to the approved health protocols.
The UAE suspends new visas decision puts it in the company of a number of countries that cut down on visas as the outbreak spreads.
What is the Ebola Virus?
Ebola is a rare, but very severe disease that is caused by a family of viruses. It affects animals primarily, usually fruit bats. It can occasionally be passed to humans who ate or handled infected animals.
Symptoms appear in 2 days to 3 weeks and have a lot in common with the flu, and include fever, headache, and fatigue. The disease spreads and eventually can result in organ failure, vomiting and diarrhoea.
The current strain is an especially worrisome one. It is the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, a vaccine is not specifically approved for this strain. Over 1,000 suspected infections have been reported over the affected area.
Conflict and displacement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) are hampering containment efforts, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports 906 suspected cases, with 223 deaths under investigation.
The danger of death was starkly put by a WHO official: “It’s massive, up to five in 10 people are at risk of dying.
No Cases in the UAE
On June 3, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention announced that the UAE has no cases of Ebola, while the ongoing outbreak is largely localized in certain areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The visa suspension measure is preventive and is not related to any suspected or reported domestic cases. Authorities have indicated that they will continue to keep a close eye on developments in the world of health in coordination with other local and international entities, and will take additional measures if needed.
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