Civil Aviation Authority Escalates Ebola Monitoring with Three-Pronged Health Measures

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), working with the Ministry of Public Health, airlines, and relevant agencies, is escalating measures to monitor and prevent Ebola virus disease in the civil aviation system.

This follows the World Health Organization's declaration that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), due to the risk of cross-border transmission.

Thailand's Public Health Ministry has designated the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as dangerous disease zones for Ebola to strengthen domestic surveillance, prevention, and control measures.

CAAT has coordinated with the International Disease Control and Quarantine Division and the Ministry of Public Health, along with airlines and relevant agencies, to establish unified guidelines for implementing health measures in aviation and responding to the situation efficiently.

The Public Health Ministry is initially requesting public cooperation in avoiding travel to affected areas, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and nearby areas with disease transmission risks.

For those with necessary travel, registration through the Thai Health Pass system (https://thaihealthpass.com) is required. Foreign nationals must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) with accurate information for effective disease tracking and surveillance.

For airlines with routes to risk areas, CAAT has coordinated strict health measures in three areas:

1. Public communications and information to passengers about health measures and requirements before travel 2. Passenger screening from the point of origin, including verification of registration information, with immediate health measures for suspected cases 3. Supporting disease control officials with information such as seating and travel details for timely disease tracking and surveillance

Additionally, the International Disease Control and Quarantine Division has conducted emergency response drills for suspected cases, both those detected on aircraft and those showing symptoms after entering the country.

Guidelines have been established for coordination between airlines, airports, health agencies, and relevant departments to manage situations continuously while minimizing impacts on aviation operations.

CAAT emphasizes that passengers and airline operators must strictly comply with health measures to ensure passenger safety, maintain confidence in Thailand's aviation system, and uphold international safety and health standards.