Weqaya affirms Saudi Arabia’s readiness to confront Ebola and Hantavirus outbreaks

RIYADH — The Saudi Health Authority (Weqaya) reaffirmed the Kingdom’s preparedness to address potential Ebola and Hantavirus outbreaks.It was revealed that there are no confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola and Hantavirus within the Kingdom. “The health status of pilgrims remains reassuring, under continuous, round-the-clock monitoring in full coordination with authorities inside and outside the Kingdom,” the Weqaya said. Precautionary measures are being reinforced, with daily health monitoring conducted for pilgrims arriving from countries neighboring outbreak zones.Weqaya stated that its ongoing surveillance of the Ebola virus outbreak in Congo and Uganda, is underway, in coordination with international health organizations, as well as global developments concerning Hantavirus. The authority emphasized that the Kingdom’s epidemiological surveillance system is fully prepared to respond to any potential health risks, safeguarding the well-being of citizens, residents, and pilgrims.Weqaya noted that the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026, in accordance with the International Health Regulations.The National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) highlighted that precautionary measures related to the Ebola outbreak in Congo have been in place since July 2019. These measures included suspending the issuance of entry visas for travelers from areas affected during the previous wave of the virus. Periodic risk assessments have prompted the continuation and strengthening of these measures for travelers from countries neighboring the outbreak zones, namely Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, and Congo. The NCDC confirmed that no cases have been reported within the Kingdom to date. The NCDC stated that it has heightened health response measures at entry points by activating response teams at all ports of entry, providing enhanced health awareness and guidance for travelers arriving from affected areas, ensuring the readiness of health facilities to manage suspected cases according to approved protocols, and implementing daily epidemiological surveillance at accommodations for pilgrims from countries neighboring outbreak zones.Regarding Hantavirus, Weqaya clarified that the virus poses a low risk to the Kingdom and the Hajj season. Monitoring and surveillance measures remain in place to ensure prompt intervention in the event of any developments. The NCDC emphasized the effectiveness of the epidemiological surveillance system and the ongoing coordination with relevant authorities, both domestically and internationally, to maintain health security during Hajj.