Thailand’s Public Health Ministry starts requiring a 21-day mandatory quarantine for all travelers arriving from the Ebola-affected Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, citing increasing numbers of arrivals from central Africa and limited cooperation to prevent disease spread. Multiple outlets report that the measure is intended to reduce the risk of Ebola being introduced into the country.
According to Thailand’s health authorities, quarantine rules differ based on whether a person shows symptoms. Travelers with Ebola symptoms must quarantine at a designated state hospital. Those who do not have symptoms are required to stay at a quarantine location that the ministry describes as unspecified in some reports.
Bloomberg notes Thailand becomes among the first countries globally to adopt such strict 21-day quarantine requirements for travelers from affected areas. Free Malaysia Today adds context on the outbreak, stating that since DRC declared the outbreak on May 15, the episode has resulted in reported deaths and suspected cases, underscoring the basis for the policy.
