Thailand ramps up Ebola watch following WHO emergency

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has upgraded its surveillance measures for travellers arriving from high-risk countries, specifically central African countries like Congo and Uganda which are currently battling a growing outbreak of the often fatal haemorrhagic disease. No cases have been detected in Thailand so far.

“The Ministry of Public Health is closely monitoring the situation. Ebola is a dangerous communicable disease caused by viruses in the Orthoebolavirus genus,” Dr. Montien Kanasawadse, director general of the DDC, said yesterday.

He added that “The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood, secretions or organs of infected individuals, as well as surfaces or objects contaminated with these fluids. It can also be transmitted through contact with infected wildlife, such as bats and monkeys, which serve as natural reservoirs for the virus.”

Dr. Montien reassured the public that Ebola is not an airborne disease. Initial symptoms include a high fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain and a sore throat.

“These are typically followed by diarrhoea, vomiting, rashes and impaired kidney and liver function,” he said “In severe cases, patients may suffer from internal and external bleeding. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 21 days and there is a high mortality rate.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Direk Khampaen, deputy director general of the DDC, stated that, despite the lack of local infections to date, the department is continuously elevating its screening protocols.

Authorities are closely monitoring individuals who have travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or other high-risk areas within the past 21 days.

Screenings for suspected cases are also being carried out at all levels of healthcare facilities to ensure swift disease identification and response.

The national healthcare infrastructure has been made fully ready to respond. This includes isolation rooms, personal protective equipment (PPE) and laboratory networks capable of rapid infection confirmation.

The DDC is also coordinating with both domestic and international agencies to ensure a quick response.

The department is urging the public to maintain good personal hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap or alcohol gel, avoiding contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals and eating thoroughly cooked food.

Anyone returning from high-risk areas who develop a fever or other unusual symptoms within 21 days of arrival are advised to seek immediate medical attention and inform doctors of their travel history.