Ebola Emergency: Ministry of Health Issues Strict Travel Guidelines to Congo

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In response, Indonesia’s Ministry of Health has issued strict guidelines for Indonesian citizens.

The Head of the Bureau of Communications and Public Information at the Ministry of Health, Aji Muhawarman, urged Indonesian citizens in affected areas or planning to travel to increase their vigilance.

“If traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is recommended to follow health protocols and adhere to guidance from local health authorities,” said Aji when confirmed on Sunday (May 17).

The Ministry of Health emphasized several crucial points to prevent the transmission of this deadly virus, including:

Aji Muhawarman reminded that the Ebola virus has an incubation period of between 2 and 21 days. Therefore, self-monitoring after travel is key to preventing the virus from entering the country.

“We remind the public that if they experience Ebola symptoms after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda within 21 days, they should immediately seek medical attention at a healthcare facility,” he stressed.

In addition to general symptoms such as fever and vomiting, the public is asked to be vigilant for signs of kidney and liver dysfunction, which often accompany infection with this virus. To date, the Ministry of Health continues to coordinate with global health authorities to monitor developments in Central Africa to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are taken at entry points into Indonesia.