Ethiopia and Rwanda Added to Key Ebola Quarantine Management Areas

Government Strengthens Quarantine Measures and Issues Travel Ban for Five Countries
Enhanced Tracking for Entrants via Third Countries

As the spread of the Ebola virus in Africa intensifies, the Korean government has newly designated Ethiopia and Rwanda as key quarantine management areas.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on May 26 that, following the World Health Organization's (WHO) recent upgrade of the Ebola risk assessment for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to "very high" and for Uganda to "high," it will strengthen both domestic and international monitoring and enhance quarantine measures to prevent the virus from entering Korea.

Accordingly, after designating the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan as key quarantine management areas for Ebola virus outbreaks on May 19, Ethiopia and Rwanda have now been added to the list as of today. All individuals entering Korea who have visited or stayed in these five countries are required to report their health status via Q-CODE (Electronic Quarantine Information System) or a health status questionnaire. In particular, given the lack of direct flights from many of these countries, the authorities will thoroughly verify the travel history of those entering Korea via third countries after a stay abroad.

KDCA will also send guidance text messages to travelers entering or leaving key quarantine management areas and provide medical institutions with access to the overseas travel history information system (DUR-ITS) to strengthen self-reporting after arrival. Recipients of such messages must report their health status to a quarantine official upon entry. They are also required to self-monitor for symptoms for 21 days (the incubation period) after arrival, and immediately report to 1339 or a public health center if they develop any suspected symptoms such as fever or abdominal pain.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also raised its alert level in response to the spread of Ebola and the rising death toll. Effective from 2:00 p.m. on May 22, it has issued a Level 4 travel ban for Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Traveling to or staying in areas under a travel ban without government permission is punishable under the Passport Act.

KDCA has also established a 24-hour rapid response system between central and local governments in preparation for any suspected cases of Ebola virus disease in Korea. If a report is made to 1339 or a public health center for suspected symptoms, a travel history and epidemiological link to affected countries will be investigated. If it is determined that pathogen confirmation is necessary, the individual will be immediately transferred to a designated national isolation treatment facility for care.

Ebola is an acute febrile and hemorrhagic disease caused by infection with the Ebola virus. Transmission occurs through direct or indirect contact with infected animals, or through the blood or bodily fluids of infected patients or deceased individuals. To prevent infection, individuals visiting affected countries must avoid all contact with wild animals and people exhibiting suspected symptoms, and should adhere to basic hygiene practices such as washing hands under running water for at least 30 seconds.

The current Ebola outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo variant, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. According to the WHO announcement on May 24, more than 900 suspected cases have been reported in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and five confirmed cases (including one death) have been identified in Kampala, Uganda.

Im Seungkwan, Commissioner of KDCA, stated, "Korea is responding at a strengthened level compared to other major countries by designating key quarantine management areas based on WHO recommendations and international trends. As the situation in Africa continues, we urge all citizens who plan to visit or have visited affected regions to strictly follow infection prevention guidelines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.