BANGKOK, Thailand – A leading Thai virologist said on Tuesday that a domestic Ebola outbreak is highly unlikely, as the severity of the disease naturally restricts infected individuals from traveling long distances. Prof. Dr. Yong Poovorawan, head of the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University, stated on Facebook that Ebola is a severe disease, with up to 50% of cases developing severe symptoms. This rapid onset of illness makes it extremely difficult for patients to board flights or travel across continents.
In contrast, global pandemics like COVID-19 or influenza spread rapidly because they are less severe, allowing infected people to travel and transmit the virus. Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 90% depending on the strain. The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda involves the moderately severe Bundibugyo strain, which has caused over 250 cases and 80 deaths. There is currently no vaccine for this specific strain, unlike the more lethal Zaire strain.
The virus spreads through direct contact with infected patients, wildlife, or bodies during funeral preparations. Each Ebola outbreak usually occurs in rural areas, linked to wildlife. Symptoms include sudden high fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, internal and external bleeding, and death within a short period. Yong concluded that because Thailand is far from the affected regions and the virus’s severity limits its geographic spread, there is no need for public panic, though awareness remains important. (TNA)
