Thailand, May 27, 2026
Thailand’s National Communicable Disease Committee has approved strict new legal measures to prevent the spread of Ebola, requiring all travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda to undergo at least 21 days of quarantine or isolation.
Dr. Monthian Khanasawat, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, announced the decision following the committee’s third meeting of the year. The move comes in response to the World Health Organization’s declaration of Ebola Bundibugyo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Current Outbreak Situation
- DR Congo: 867 suspected cases, 214 deaths
- Uganda: 5 confirmed cases, 1 death
- Thailand: No cases detected, but authorities remain on high alert due to the virus’s severity and long incubation period of up to 21 days.
New Entry Measures
- Quarantine (no symptoms): Travelers will be quarantined at designated facilities for 21 days.
- Isolation (with symptoms): Symptomatic travelers will be isolated in state hospitals.
- Entry Point Restriction: All arrivals from DRC and Uganda must enter Thailand exclusively through Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The Department of Disease Control has prepared quarantine facilities starting May 27, 2026, at 6:00 PM, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Under Thailand’s Communicable Disease Act (2015):
- Failure to comply with quarantine orders (Section 34(1)): Fine up to 20,000 baht.
- Leaving quarantine or isolation without permission (Section 34(7)): Up to 1 year imprisonment, or a fine up to 100,000 baht, or both.
Dr. Monthian urged travelers to provide accurate travel histories and cooperate fully with health authorities. He reassured the public that Thailand’s surveillance system is well-prepared, with trained personnel, medical supplies, and advanced laboratories.
