Bahrain has announced a temporary travel ban on foreign travellers arriving from South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda following growing concerns over the spread of Ebola infections in parts of Africa.
According to the official Bahrain News Agency, the restrictions will take effect from Tuesday and remain in force for 30 days as a precautionary public health measure.
Authorities said the decision was taken to prevent the possible spread of the virus into Bahrain and to strengthen national health safety measures.
With the move, Bahrain has reportedly become the first Gulf country to introduce travel restrictions linked to the current Ebola outbreak.
The World Health Organization has expressed serious concern over the rapid rise in Ebola cases across affected African regions.
Health officials reported that in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, 26 deaths linked to Ebola symptoms were recorded within 24 hours.
The total number of deaths connected to the outbreak in Congo has reportedly risen to 131, while around 516 people are showing symptoms associated with the virus.
Authorities in Uganda have also confirmed two Ebola cases linked to the outbreak.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned about the spread of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola and stressed the importance of rapid containment efforts.
Health experts fear that cross border movement and weak healthcare infrastructure in affected areas could increase the risk of wider regional transmission.
Ebola is a highly infectious viral disease transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, bleeding, fatigue and organ failure.
International health agencies are continuing surveillance and emergency response operations as countries strengthen border health screening and preparedness measures.
