Phuket places 11 arrivals from Ebola-risk countries under 21-day monitoring

Phuket authorities have placed 11 travellers who arrived from Ebola-risk countries under 21-day health monitoring, Governor Nirat Pongsitthavorn said.

Nirat announced the measure during a meeting with provincial public health officials, saying Phuket must remain vigilant because the island receives a large number of direct international flights.

According to the governor, the 11 travellers arrived at Phuket International Airport from countries classified as high risk, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. He said all were placed under health observation for 21 days in line with Ministry of Public Health protocols.

Nirat said none of the travellers had shown Ebola symptoms while in Thailand. He added that those under monitoring were due to gradually return to their home countries between May 28 and May 31.

The move came as Thailand introduced mandatory quarantine measures for travellers from the two at-risk nations from 6pm on May 27. Under the policy, future travellers from those areas must enter through Suvarnabhumi Airport for centralised isolation.

Nirat said stricter screening procedures could reduce arrivals from high-risk areas because of more proactive health checks.

Additional screening has also been introduced at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where the Department of Disease Control set up a dedicated screening counter for passengers from risk areas before immigration.

DDC spokesperson Jurai Wongsawat said travellers showing symptoms would be sent to Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute for further examination and treatment, while those without symptoms would remain under close observation for 21 days.

Health officials said Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people and does not spread easily through the air. They warned the disease can become severe and has a high mortality rate without proper treatment.