The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an urgent warning on 20/5 about the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda, stating the risk of spread is high at national and regional levels, though globally it remains low. This declaration prompted several Asian countries, including Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Nepal, and India, to activate surveillance systems at international border gates to prevent the disease's entry.
To date, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported 51 Ebola cases, concentrated in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. WHO warned the actual scale could be much larger, with nearly 600 suspected cases and 139 other contacts under surveillance. Previously, on 17/5, the organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa an international public health emergency.
In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the epidemic's progression, regularly updating information from WHO, and enhancing surveillance at health facilities and health quarantine at border gates. To prevent the disease, the Ministry of Health advises individuals returning from affected areas to self-monitor their health for 21 days. They should also avoid direct contact with people suspected of having Ebola symptoms, blood, bodily fluids, or personal belongings of patients.
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The Rodolphe Merieux laboratory in Goma, Congo, where suspected Ebola samples are processed. *Photo: AFP*
Across the region, countries have also intensified disease prevention measures. South Korea and China require all passengers arriving from or having transited through affected areas like Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan to declare their health status. Individuals exhibiting symptoms such as fever, nausea, or having epidemiological contact will be directly referred to health authorities for assessment. The Hong Kong (China) government has prepared the Penny’s Bay isolation facility on Lantau Island, previously used during the Covid-19 pandemic, for immediate activation upon detecting a case.
Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and Nepal are implementing health monitoring measures for passengers from affected regions for 21 days, corresponding to the Ebola virus's incubation period. Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency confirmed it would conduct immediate medical checks at border gates for anyone with suspected symptoms. In India, the National Institute of Virology in Pune has been designated as a central testing hub to expand rapid diagnostic capabilities.
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The isolation facility on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. *Photo: SCMP*
Health experts advise the public to carefully consider and closely monitor epidemiological information if planning travel to Central and East Africa. Travelers passing through border gates must truthfully declare their travel history, avoid contact with individuals exhibiting high fever, unusual bleeding, or wildlife of unknown origin.
Mai Phuong (According to AP, SCMP)
