The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Thursday, 22 May 2025, announced elevated surveillance and prevention measures for Ebola virus disease across the country's civil aviation network, following the World Health Organization (WHO)'s declaration of the ongoing outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The move marks a coordinated escalation by Thai authorities to guard against cross-border transmission via air travel.

What Prompted the Escalation

The Thai public health ministry on Wednesday formally designated both the DRC and Uganda as dangerous communicable disease zones for Ebola, triggering mandatory screening and response protocols within civil aviation. This designation aligned with the WHO Emergency Committee's assessment, confirmed on Tuesday, that the outbreak constitutes a PHEIC — though the committee was clear it does not yet meet the threshold of a pandemic emergency.

Notably, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had declared the PHEIC as early as Sunday, making it the first instance of a WHO chief issuing such a declaration without first convening an Emergency Committee. The committee subsequently met and affirmed his assessment.

Key Measures Rolled Out

The CAAT has joined planning sessions with the ministry's Division of International Communicable Disease Control and Quarantine, alongside airlines and other sector stakeholders, to harmonise public health protocols. Airlines operating routes connected to the affected regions have been directed to inform passengers of health requirements, screen travellers at the point of origin, and share passenger seating and travel data with disease-control officers to enable rapid contact tracing.

Travellers from Thailand heading to the DRC, Uganda, or neighbouring high-risk areas are required to register through the Thai Health Pass system. Foreign nationals arriving in Thailand must accurately complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card to support disease monitoring and contact tracing efforts.

Preparedness Drills and Response Planning

The quarantine division has conducted rehearsals of response protocols for suspected Ebola cases identified either on board aircraft or after arrival. Coordination procedures have been established between airlines, airports, health authorities, and supporting agencies to ensure continuity of operations while limiting disruption. Authorities have urged the public to avoid all non-essential travel to the affected countries and surrounding high-risk zones.

Global Context and What Comes Next

The WHO's PHEIC designation signals the highest level of international health alert short of a pandemic declaration, obligating member states to strengthen surveillance and reporting. This is the latest in a series of Ebola outbreaks in central and east Africa that have periodically triggered international concern over cross-border spread. For aviation-dependent nations like Thailand — a major air travel hub in Southeast Asia — the risk of imported cases through transit passengers remains the central concern. Health authorities have indicated that protocols will remain in place and will be reviewed in line with WHO guidance as the outbreak evolves.