Taiwan Offers Free Ebola Testing for Asymptomatic Travelers from Two Outbreak Countries

(Central News Agency, Taoyuan, June 3) To contain the Ebola virus, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang announced today during an inspection of quarantine operations at Taoyuan Airport that, starting today until June 30, free testing will be offered at four international airports in Taiwan to asymptomatic Taiwanese nationals and inbound travelers with a travel history to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

As the Ebola outbreak intensifies, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on May 29 that, effective from midnight on June 2, entry for residents of the DRC and Uganda would be suspended for 90 days, except for four categories including emergency humanitarian cases. This marks the re-imposition of border controls since the lifting of COVID-19 border restrictions.

Minister Shih, accompanied by CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun, inspected the fever screening station and entry inspection procedures at Terminal 2 of Taoyuan International Airport in the morning.

Speaking to the media, Minister Shih stated that to strengthen border surveillance, from today until June 30, at four international airports—Taipei Songshan Airport, Taoyuan International Airport, Taichung Airport, and Kaohsiung Airport—asymptomatic Taiwanese nationals and inbound travelers with a travel history to the DRC and Uganda will be issued a "Voluntary Health Management Notice" upon entry and offered free testing.

Lo Yi-chun explained that the testing is voluntary. Quarantine officers, wearing appropriate protective gear, will collect 5ml of whole blood in a testing room equipped with HEPA filters. The implementation period will be subject to rolling review based on the international epidemic situation.

The CDC stated that for individuals entering from the aforementioned outbreak areas who exhibit symptoms, a referral mechanism for medical treatment has been established at all ports. They will receive medical examination at contracted hospitals, with assistance from border agencies and airport authorities for expedited clearance. (Editor: Huang Mingxi) 1150603