Lalida revealed that the government has directed all agencies to strengthen screening of travelers from high-risk areas following the Royal Gazette's declaration of Congo and Uganda as dangerous communicable disease zones for Ebola, effective 21 May 2026.
On 22 May 2026, Ms. Lalida Pertviwatana, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, stated that on 20 May 2026 the Royal Gazette published the Ministry of Public Health's announcement declaring areas outside the kingdom as dangerous communicable disease zones due to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) 2026, designating the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Uganda as such zones, effective from 21 May 2026.
This follows monitoring by the World Health Organization (WHO), which declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to widespread infections and deaths, and the risk of cross-border transmission.
The Deputy Spokesperson said the government has instructed relevant agencies to intensify surveillance and closely monitor the situation to assure public health safety. The Ministry of Public Health, through the Department of Disease Control, has increased screening rigor for travelers from high-risk countries at international entry points. Travelers from affected areas must pre-register via the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system for foreigners and the Thai Health Pass website (https://thaihealthpass.com) for Thai nationals, along with symptom screening, temperature checks, interviews, and 21-day follow-up monitoring.
Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has integrated efforts with the Ministry of Public Health, airlines, and related agencies to enhance health measures in aviation by establishing three key protocols.
These include public health information dissemination to passengers before travel, passenger screening from the point of origin including verifying registration and assessing for suspected symptoms, and providing information support to disease control officers for timely tracking and monitoring.
Agencies have also rehearsed emergency response plans for suspected cases both onboard aircraft and for passengers showing symptoms after entering the country, ensuring continuous, swift, and effective management of such situations.
"The government affirms the readiness of Thailand's public health system to monitor, prevent, and control dangerous communicable diseases through close inter-agency collaboration to protect safety and build public confidence. We urge the public to follow updates from official sources and strictly adhere to health guidelines without panic," Ms. Lalida said.