In response to the Ebola virus outbreak, authorities in Phuket have enhanced their disease control strategies, confirming that there have been no reported infections in Thailand to date. On Wednesday, Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthavorn led an urgent meeting with the provincial communicable disease committee, which included officials from the provincial public health office. The discussions focused on surveillance, screening, and preparedness as Phuket International Airport continues to process tens of thousands of international travelers daily.
Governor Nirat emphasized the importance of Phuket, a key international entry point for Thailand, as a critical checkpoint against the virus. The province’s preventive actions were initiated following the Ministry of Public Health’s classification of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as high-risk nations for Ebola.
Currently, eleven travelers from these designated high-risk countries are in Phuket, all of whom are symptom-free and being closely monitored. These tourists are scheduled to depart Thailand on Thursday and Sunday.
Dussadee Kongtrakulsub, a physician from the provincial public health office, noted that travelers arriving from high-risk regions must now undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine upon their entry into Thailand.
It is important to understand that Ebola is not transmitted through airborne means, such as coughing or sneezing. Instead, the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals displaying symptoms, making transmission typically confined to caregivers or through direct physical contact.
Historically, Ebola outbreaks have shown a case fatality rate (CFR) between 39.5% and 66%. However, the latest outbreak in the DRC has reported lower CFRs ranging from approximately 11% to 32.5%. According to Montien Kanasawat, the director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), the current outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain in the DRC has led to 867 suspected cases and 214 fatalities, while Uganda has reported five confirmed cases and one death.
Although Thailand has not experienced any Ebola cases, officials are cautious due to the disease’s high severity and its incubation period, which can last up to 21 days.
Source: Bangkok Post
