Government Orders Health Ministry to Monitor and Surveil Ebola Outbreak as WHO Declares International Health Emergency; No Cases Found in Thailand, Public Asked Not to Panic
The Thai government has ordered health authorities to monitor an Ebola outbreak declared a global emergency by the WHO in the Democratic Republic of Congo, though no cases have been reported in Thailand so far.
May 20, 2025 — Ployprawai Laksameesang Chanthran, Deputy Government Spokesperson, announced that the government has ordered the Ministry of Public Health to monitor and surveil the Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern.
According to Ployprawai, Ebola is a severe viral infection spread through blood and bodily fluids of patients, including blood, saliva, vomit, feces, and other secretions, particularly in severely ill patients. Transmission typically occurs within families, among healthcare workers, or among those in close contact with sick patients and deceased bodies. Unlike measles or COVID-19, the virus does not spread easily through the air. No cases have been reported in Thailand to date.
Initial symptoms may resemble common fever, including high fever, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting. Some cases may involve abnormal bleeding. Without proper care, the disease can become severe with high mortality rates. However, because infected individuals typically show clear symptoms, close contacts can be tracked, quarantined, and the disease controlled more easily than certain airborne infections.
"The government has ordered the Ministry of Public Health to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with relevant agencies to prepare healthcare facilities, isolation rooms, personal protective equipment, and laboratory capabilities in case suspected cases are identified in the future," Ployprawai stated.
The public is urged to obtain information from health authorities, avoid spreading panic-inducing misinformation, and maintain basic hygiene practices consistently.
