BANGKOK, Thailand – The Thai government has reassured the public that no cases of Ebola have been detected in the country, dismissing widely shared online claims that the deadly virus had entered Thailand. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ms. Ploythalee Laksameesangchan said authorities had reviewed the matter through the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand (AFNC) and confirmed that reports claiming “Ebola has arrived in Thailand” were false.
The clarification follows the arrival of a female traveler from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), a country currently under enhanced disease surveillance. Upon entering Thailand on May 28, the traveler was taken to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in accordance with standard public health protocols for passengers arriving from areas with dangerous infectious diseases. Health officials said the woman showed no history of contact with Ebola patients and was processed under routine disease-control measures. Authorities added that she has already booked a return flight to her country of origin.
The government urged the public not to be misled by misinformation or become unnecessarily alarmed by unverified reports circulating online. Officials also confirmed that the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Disease Control continues to closely monitor travelers arriving from Ebola-affected regions, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Between May 21 and May 25, authorities screened 53 travelers arriving from affected areas and found no individuals meeting the criteria for Ebola investigation or diagnosis. The government said disease surveillance measures remain in place and that Thailand’s public health system is prepared to respond to any potential threats while ensuring accurate information is provided to the public. (TNA)
