Bangkok: Thailand has heightened screening measures for travelers arriving from high-risk areas after designating the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as dangerous communicable disease zones due to an Ebola outbreak, a government official said.
According to Thai News Agency, the announcement, published in the Royal Gazette, took effect on Thursday following the World Health Organization's declaration of the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern due to rising cases and the risk of cross-border transmission.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana said on Friday that the government has ordered relevant agencies to step up surveillance. Under the new measures, the Department of Disease Control has intensified screening at international entry points. Travelers from affected areas must register via pre-arrival digital platforms, undergo temperature checks, and be monitored for 21 days.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand is also coordinating with airlines to screen passengers before departure and support disease control officials with tracking data. Contingency plans have been established to manage any suspected cases detected during flights or after arrival.
"The government confirms the readiness of Thailand's public health system to monitor, prevent, and control dangerous communicable diseases," Lalida said, urging the public to follow official health guidance without panic.