Thailand Mandates 21-Day Quarantine for Travelers from Congo and Uganda Due to Ebola Risk

Bangkok. Thailand has made 21 days of quarantine mandatory for travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda due to the risk of the Ebola virus. The government has implemented a 21-day mandatory quarantine for travelers coming from these two countries or transiting through them.

This decision has been made due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus spreading in these countries. According to Thailand's Ministry of Health, travelers showing symptoms of infection will be kept in state-designated hospitals, while those without symptoms will be placed in separate quarantine centers.

This decision comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an international health warning about the Ebola outbreak spreading in the region. Congo declared an Ebola outbreak on May 15.

Since then, 204 people have died from Ebola virus infection in the country, and 867 suspected infected patients have been found. In its neighboring country Uganda, one person has died due to Ebola virus infection, and 6 others have been confirmed infected.

The WHO estimates that the actual scope of the infection may be much larger than reported, as the Ebola virus can spread undetected for a long time.

Senior Thai public health official Somlerk Jeungsamarn said that this strict step has been taken considering the risk of the virus entering the country due to international travel.