SINGAPORE – The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) activated enhanced public health measures on 19 May, as the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda continues.
According to Reuters, the outbreak, attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, has resulted in at least 160 fatalities among 670 suspected cases, with 61 confirmed as of 21 May.
This situation has been further complicated by a confirmed case in South Kivu province, hundreds of kilometres from Ituri province, DRC, where the outbreak began. These developments have raised concerns that the virus is spreading beyond the known affected areas.
In response to these unprecedented events, the CDA has implemented several preventive measures, despite there being no direct flights from the DRC or Uganda to Singapore and travel volume remaining low.
Health advisories are now displayed at all points of entry for incoming and outbound travellers. All incoming travellers must declare their health status and travel history via the Electronic Health Declaration Card (eHDC), and those presenting with symptoms associated with Ebola after visiting affected areas will be referred for medical assessment at the point of entry.
Healthcare personnel performing swab test to a man in car
Furthermore, travellers arriving from affected destinations must monitor themselves for Ebola symptoms for 21 days from their date of departure, seeking prompt medical attention if they become unwell.
Additionally, the agency has reminded doctors to remain vigilant for Ebola disease in patients presenting with compatible symptoms and recent travel history to affected areas.
Bundibugyo Ebola carries a case fatality rate of between 25 and 50 per cent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although less lethal than the more familiar Zaire strain, which has up to 90 per cent mortality rate, it is still very life threatening. The virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, not through the air.
Singapore is not alone in tightening its response. The United States announced on 18 May that it would screen air travellers from affected areas and temporarily suspend visa services for those regions.
In South-east Asia, Indonesia has stepped up monitoring at its international entry points, referring suspected cases to designated hospitals, while Thailand has activated close surveillance to prevent imported infections.
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- Precautionary measures stepped up in response to Ebola disease outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda https://www.cda.gov.sg/news-and-events/precautionary-measures-stepped-up-in-response-to-ebola-disease-outbreak-in-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-uganda/
