Thailand Tightens Ebola Screening After WHO Declares Health Emergency

Bangkok (ANTARA) - The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Thursday (21 May) it has stepped up surveillance and preventive measures against the Ebola virus within the country’s civil aviation system. The moves come after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern due to cross-border transmission risks. On Wednesday (20 May), the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand designated the two African countries as zones of high infectious disease risk for Ebola, prompting the implementation of screening and coordinated response measures across civil aviation. In a statement, CAAT said it had joined planning sessions with the Division of International Disease Control and Quarantine under the ministry, together with airlines and other stakeholders to align public health protocols across the sector. Local authorities urged the public to avoid non-essential travel to the DRC and Uganda and surrounding high-risk areas. Travellers are required to register through the Thai Health Pass system, while foreign nationals must accurately fill out the Digital Thailand Arrival Card to support contact tracing and disease monitoring. Airlines operating routes connected to affected areas have been instructed to inform passengers of public health requirements, to conduct passenger screening at departure, and to share passenger seating and travel data with disease control authorities to enable rapid follow-up. The Division of Quarantine has also conducted simulation exercises of the response plan for suspected cases identified on board aircraft or after arrival in Thailand, establishing procedures for coordination between airlines, airports, health authorities and supporting agencies to ensure continuity of operations and to minimise disruption.