UAE suspends visas and bans entry of nationals from three countries to prevent Ebola virus World News

The United Arab Emirates has announced a temporary halt to the issuance of new visas to nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan as authorities step up measures to prevent the spread of Ebola.The decision, announced jointly by the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), will come into effect on June 6.Under the new regulations, travelers from these three countries will not be allowed to enter the UAE, including those passing through third countries. Authorities said entry will only be allowed to individuals who have been outside the affected country for more than 21 days before arriving in the UAE.Officials said the restrictions are part of a broader effort to strengthen national preparedness and response to developments related to the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.The visa suspension will remain in effect until further notice and may be extended based on public health assessments.Despite these restrictions, freight operations between the UAE and affected countries will continue. Transit flights will also operate normally, authorities said.NCEMA and ICP said they will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with national and international partners and will review whether additional measures are needed in light of evolving health risks.The Ministry of Health and Prevention said the public health situation in the UAE remains stable and prevention systems are in place across the country. These include disease surveillance, early detection mechanisms, airport screening procedures and healthcare preparedness measures.In a public advisory issued on June 3, the Ministry of Health stated that the current Ebola epidemic is still mainly concentrated in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.The authorities stressed that they will continue to assess developments and, if necessary, take further measures based on approved health protocols and risk assessments.