Health Ministry Monitoring Ebola Outbreak, Confirms Preparedness; 126 Travelers from Congo-Uganda Under Observation
Thailand's Health Ministry confirmed no Ebola cases locally but is monitoring 126 travelers from Congo and Uganda following a rare Bundibugyo strain outbreak in Africa that has killed approximately 160 people.
On May 22, Dr. Sujai Wongswat, a senior physician and spokesperson for the Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health, addressed the Ebola virus situation, emphasizing that Ebola is not a new disease but an infectious viral illness that has continuously spread across Africa. Multiple outbreaks have occurred since 2014, 2016, and 2022, with the latest in 2025 involving the rare Bundibugyo strain—not a newly discovered variant. As of May 17, there were over 250 suspected cases and approximately 160 deaths linked to the disease, prompting global vigilance. Thailand has yet to identify any suspected or confirmed Ebola cases in 2025.
Dr. Sujai explained that Ebola belongs to the viral hemorrhagic fever category, distinct from dengue fever commonly found in Thailand. The virus is in the Filovirus family and primarily spreads in Africa. Severe Ebola symptoms limit patient mobility outside outbreak zones, containing transmission largely to Africa.
"Disease transmission originates from animals to humans, with fruit bats serving as the natural reservoir, before spreading person-to-person through contact with secretions, blood, or contaminated materials from patients. Unlike COVID-19 or influenza, it does not spread through respiratory droplets, resulting in slower transmission," Dr. Sujai stated.
Ebola's average transmission rate is approximately 1.95, indicating it can spread but requires close contact. Currently, six Ebola strains exist, with four capable of infecting humans. The previously prevalent Zaire strain now has vaccines and treatments, but the current Bundibugyo outbreak lacks approved medications or vaccines. Vaccine development is expected to take at least three to nine months. The disease has an incubation period of two to 21 days, initially resembling flu with high fever, headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, progressing to severe symptoms including abnormal hemorrhaging, with mortality rates between 40-80%.
Following outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and two confirmed cases in Uganda with travel history from Congo, the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2025, though it has not yet reached pandemic status. Thailand has escalated surveillance accordingly.
"The Ministry of Public Health has declared the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as Ebola-affected zones, effective May 21, to strengthen disease control and prevention measures, including traveler screening, airport surveillance, and nationwide hospital monitoring, while preparing disease investigation teams and laboratory testing facilities," Dr. Sujai said.
Dr. Rom Buathong, acting senior physician and director of the International Disease Control and Quarantine Division, noted that all travelers—Thai citizens and foreigners—from these two countries must undergo health screening at disease control checkpoints upon entering Thailand. At-risk travelers must complete health declaration forms through the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system.
