The Royal Gazette published a public health announcement designating Congo and Uganda as zones of dangerous communicable disease due to Ebola virus infection. Thailand is intensifying surveillance because of the risk of disease transmission from travelers entering the kingdom.
On 20 May 2026, the Royal Gazette website publishedthe Ministry of Public Health’s announcement regarding foreign territories designated as dangerous communicable disease zones in the case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) 2026.Signed by Mr. Songsak Thongsri, Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Minister of Public Health, the announcement states the following:
Due to the outbreak situation of Ebola virus disease (EVD) which is classified as a dangerous communicable disease under the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558 (2015), spreading rapidly and widely, causing many infections and deaths. On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization declared outbreaks of the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Uganda. It was therefore declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
However, Thailand is at risk of disease transmission carried by travelers from outside the kingdom. Therefore, for the benefit of prevention and control of the disease entering the kingdom, and to ensure effective surveillance, prevention, and control, the Minister of Public Health, upon recommendation of the expert committee, deemed it appropriate to designate foreign territories experiencing Ebola outbreaks as dangerous communicable disease zones under the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558, with the provision that this designation may be revoked if the situation improves or for valid reasons.
By the authority under Section 5, paragraph one, together with Section 8 of the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558, the Minister of Public Health, upon expert committee advice, issues the following announcement.
Section 1: This announcement shall be called “Ministry of Public Health Announcement on Foreign Territories Designated as Dangerous Communicable Disease Zones in the Case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) 2026.”
Section 2: This announcement shall take effect from the day after its publication in the Royal Gazette onward.
Section 3: The following foreign territories are designated as dangerous communicable disease zones in the case of Ebola virus disease (EVD):
(1) Democratic Republic of the Congo
(2) Republic of Uganda
Announced on 20 May 2026.