Thailand orders 21-day quarantine for arrivals from Congo and Uganda over rising Ebola threat
Thailand has implemented a mandatory 21-day quarantine for all arrivals from Congo and Uganda due to rising Ebola cases, replacing an unenforceable self-monitoring system that allowed travelers to change locations frequently.
BANGKOK — Thailand has imposed mandatory 21-day quarantine on all travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, effective immediately, as Ebola cases in both countries continue to rise.
The Ministry of Public Health announced the upgraded measures following a meeting of the National Communicable Disease Committee on 26 May. Permanent Secretary Dr. Somruek Chuengsamarn said the decision came after the previous self-monitoring system proved difficult to enforce.
Under the old measures, travellers from the two countries were required to report their whereabouts and monitor their own symptoms for 21 days. However, authorities found that some individuals changed hotels multiple times after arrival, making them hard to track. Hotels had also begun turning away guests from high-risk areas.
Officials said an average of five to seven travellers from Congo and Uganda enter Thailand daily via connecting flights, as no direct routes exist. That number has climbed in recent days, peaking at 19 arrivals in one day. Roughly 100 travellers from both countries have entered Thailand in total, with more expected.
All new arrivals from the two countries must now enter a government quarantine facility immediately upon landing, regardless of whether they show symptoms. The Bamrasnaradura Institute will serve as the primary quarantine site, with Department of Disease Control staff monitoring those in quarantine daily.
Costs will be covered by authorities for the first 72 hours. After that, travellers will bear the expenses themselves. Thai nationals will be exempt from charges. Only those who originated from Congo or Uganda are subject to quarantine — passengers on the same connecting flights from other countries are not affected.
Dr. Somruek said no travel ban is currently planned, but that measures will be reviewed regularly based on the situation in both countries. He noted that Thailand's response already goes beyond World Health Organization guidelines.
