Saudi Arabia advises against West Africa travel over Ebola

Saudi Arabia has called on its residents not to travel to West Africa countries where the deadly Ebola virus has spread, according to a statement by the Saudi Health Ministry.
 
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia advises its citizens and residents not to travel to Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea until further notice due to the spread of Ebola virus in these countries," read the statement Wednesday evening.
 
"The Kingdom will continue to monitor the situation in the infected countries in cooperation with the World Health Organization," the statement added.
 
The call came hours after the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday afternoon that a Saudi man who had been quarantined for showing symptoms similar to those associated with Ebola has died of a "heart attack."
 
The man had been quarantined following his return from Sierra Leone, a West African country ravaged by the deadly virus.
 
The Health Ministry said that it was working to identify people who had come in contact with the deceased.
 
The Ebola virus, which first appeared in 1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, has killed hundreds of people Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
 
The virus, a contagious disease for which there is no known treatment or cure, can be transmitted to humans from wild animals and also spreads through contact with the body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died of the disease.
 
Medical doctors say common symptoms of Ebola include high fever and headaches, followed by bleeding from openings in the body.
 
Nigeria has also confirmed two Ebola fatalities.