Authorities in Phuket have stepped up proactive disease control measures to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus, while confirming no infections have been detected in the country so far.
Phuket governor Nirat Pongsitthavorn on Wednesday chaired an emergency meeting of the provincial committee on communicable disease. Officials from the provincial public health office attended to discuss surveillance, screening and preparedness measures. The move comes as Phuket International Airport continues to receive tens of thousands of international travellers each day.
The governor said Phuket, one of Thailand's major international gateways, must serve as a strict frontline checkpoint against the deadly virus.
He said the province implemented preventive measures after the Ministry of Public Health designated the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as high-risk countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Eleven travellers from the targeted countries are staying in Phuket. They have not shown symptoms of illness and are under close monitoring. The tourists would leave Thailand on Thursday and on Sunday.
Dussadee Kongtrakulsub, a doctor from Phuket's provincial public health office, said travellers arriving from high-risk countries are now required to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine upon entering Thailand.
Ebola is not transmitted through coughing, sneezing or airborne exposure.
Instead, the virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals who are already showing symptoms, meaning transmission is generally limited to close caregivers or direct physical contact.
Historically, Ebola outbreaks have recorded case fatality rates (CFRs) ranging from 39.5% to 66%. However, the latest outbreak in the DRC has reported lower CFRs of around 11% to 32.5%.
Department of Disease Control (DDC) director-general Montien Kanasawat said the current outbreak of Ebola's Bundibugyo strain has resulted in 867 suspected cases and 214 deaths in the DRC, while Uganda has confirmed five infections and one death.
Although Thailand has not recorded any Ebola cases, officials pointed to the disease's high severity and incubation period of up to 21 days.
