Thailand mandates 21-day quarantine for arrivals from Congo and Uganda to prevent Ebola

CNA Bangkok, May 26. Following Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, Thai authorities announced that due to an increase in arrivals from these two countries and a failure to comply with epidemic prevention reporting, they will implement a 21-day mandatory quarantine for travelers from these nations starting today. According to the Bangkok Post, Somlerk Jeungsmarn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, stated that while the number of arrivals from the DRC and Uganda has increased, some travelers have not reported their health status to health authorities daily as required, leading the government to decide on mandatory quarantine. Somlerk pointed out that while the average daily number of arrivals was only 5 to 7 people, it has recently increased to over 10 per day, with one day seeing as many as 19 arrivals. The report states that flights from the DRC and Uganda can only land at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, and all travelers from these countries must be quarantined for 21 days at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi Province. The Thai government will cover the quarantine costs for the first 72 hours, after which travelers must pay for themselves. Additionally, if suspected symptoms are found, they will be sent to the hospital immediately. Thai health officials stated that Ebola cases in the DRC and Uganda are increasing, and the risk of transmission to Thailand is rising, making mandatory quarantine necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.