Jordan has announced a temporary ban on travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda due to the Ebola virus outbreak in both countries. The ban, effective for 30 days starting Wednesday, exempts Jordanian citizens, as stated by the Jordanian Ministry of Interior. The situation will be closely monitored in alignment with global health updates.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed “deep concern” over the rapid Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has resulted in 136 deaths, according to Xinhua news agency. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that over 130 deaths are believed to be linked to the outbreak, with more than 500 suspected cases reported.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that affects humans and primates. The virus spreads to humans from wild animals like fruit bats, porcupines, and non-human primates, and then transmits within the human population through direct contact with infected individuals’ bodily fluids. The average fatality rate of Ebola is approximately 50%, with rates varying from 25% to 90% in previous outbreaks.
The first Ebola outbreaks occurred in remote Central African villages near tropical rainforests. The 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the largest and most complex since the virus’s discovery in 1976, with more cases and deaths than all previous outbreaks combined. Symptoms of Ebola include sudden fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and other severe manifestations, emphasizing the importance of vigilance among healthcare workers.
