#Fact-finding #mission on #airport exit #screening - EU Health Task Force mission to #DRC and #Uganda, #Bundibugyo virus disease #outbreak 2026 (ECDC, summary)

 

Executive summary

    This report provides a snapshot of the infrastructure and procedures in place for exit screening in the main international airports of each capital city: N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa (DRC) and Entebbe International Airport in Kampala (Uganda). 

    Exit screening in these airports, including symptom checks and exposure assessment, can contribute to reducing the risk of onward transmission by identifying travellers who are symptomatic before they board, and preventing them travelling with symptoms. 

    It also helps dissuade people who are ill from travelling, and enhances public and stakeholder confidence in the public health response. 

    However, it cannot fully prevent the exportation of cases, as the absence of symptoms at departure does not exclude subsequent onset of disease upon or after arrival. 

    The mission team found that both countries have established coordinated exit screening systems, supported by strong political commitment and national leadership to prevent international transmission of Ebola disease. 

    These function alongside domestic containment efforts based on extensive experience of managing previous Ebola disease outbreaks. 

    In both countries, the mission team observed a high degree of transparency and willingness to engage with stakeholders through facilitating access to systems and operations. 

    The site visit at both airports demonstrated that the exit screening systems in place are in line with international standards and benefit from effective multi-sectoral collaboration, involving public health authorities, aviation actors, border services, security forces, and international partners. 

    Screening processes have clear referral and escalation pathways supported by trained medical personnel and infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures. 

    While the systems in place are functional, the mission identified opportunities for further targeted interventions, particularly in relation to passenger processing, digital integration, IPC measures and risk communication. 

    These findings have been communicated to the national authorities in both countries. 

    Regular training, supervision and monitoring over time by national teams and international partners will help to sustain and further improve practices.

Source: 

Link: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/fact-finding-mission-airport-exit-screening-eu-health-task-force-mission

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#Taiwan, Free #Ebola virus testing will be offered for passengers arriving from DRC and Uganda (June 3 '26)

 

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today (May 3) that in response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration on May 17, 2026, that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), Minister Shih Chung-liang of the Ministry of Health and Welfare visited Taoyuan International Airport this morning to inspect airport quarantine measures and cross-airport joint prevention and control operations, and encouraged airport quarantine staff to remain at their posts and protect the health of the people.

    Minister Shih first received a briefing on border response and preparedness, and then visited the fever screening station and other locations to understand the various frontline border quarantine operations. 

    The National Immigration Agency's Border Affairs Brigade also explained the entry inspection and joint prevention and control notification mechanisms. 

    Minister Shih expressed his gratitude to the Border First Qualifiers (CIQS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the National Immigration Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, the Civil Aeronautics Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the Tourism Administration and other relevant ministries, as well as Taoyuan International Airport Corporation, various international airports and airlines for their joint efforts in epidemic prevention and control, and for implementing joint prevention and control cooperation in border quarantine and epidemic prevention. 

    He also affirmed that all units have established a complete border joint prevention and control system, grasped information on high-risk passengers, improved the timeliness of epidemic prevention and control response, and safeguarded the safety of the domestic community.

    Minister Shih further pointed out that considering the still unclear aspects of the Ebola outbreak and virus characteristics in the two African countries, and the fact that the initial symptoms of the disease are often nonspecific and easily overlooked, in order to prevent the risk of imported cases, strengthen border monitoring, detect cases early, and activate Taiwan's epidemic prevention and medical response measures, and after consulting the recommendations of the expert meeting on June 2, it was announced that from June 3 to June 30, free testing will be provided at four international airports—Taipei Songshan Airport, Taoyuan International Airport, Taichung Airport, and Kaohsiung Airport—for asymptomatic Taiwanese citizens and inbound travelers with a history of DRC or travel to Uganda. 

    In addition to issuing a self-health management notice, testing will be provided upon arrival. 

    Testing is voluntary, and quarantine officers wearing appropriate protective equipment will collect 5ml of whole blood in a testing room equipped with HEPA equipment. 

    The implementation will be reviewed on a rolling basis according to the international epidemic situation. 

    As for those entering from the aforementioned epidemic areas who "show symptoms," each port has established a mechanism for transferring them to medical facilities. 

    They will be examined by contracted hospitals, and border authorities and airport companies will assist with expedited customs clearance.

    Minister Shih reiterated that the travel advisory level for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda is currently Level 3, "Warning," urging the public to avoid travel to areas with Ebola outbreaks. 

    He also requested that inbound travelers cooperate with all government quarantine measures and, upon arrival in Taiwan or during the 21-day self-health management period after returning home, report their health status daily through the "Public Proactive E-Reporting System." 

    If any suspected Ebola symptoms (fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or bleeding, etc.) are experienced, please proactively report to quarantine personnel or call the epidemic prevention hotline 1922 for assistance from health authorities. 

    Minister Shih reminded the public that those who violate the above regulations may be fined NT$10,000 to NT$150,000 under Article 69, Paragraph 1, Item 1 of the Communicable Disease Control Act. He urged the public to cooperate to jointly safeguard domestic epidemic prevention and control.

 Source: 

Link: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/ZdWGh5V6x5K7ebkKCVzg0w?typeid=9

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#Risk #assessment #guidelines for diseases transmitted on aircraft (RADIGA) – #Ebola disease #update (ECDC, summary)

 

Background 

    The ongoing outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda reported in May 2026 [1] has prompted ECDC to review its operational guidance relevant to air travel. 

    In this context, updated guidance is needed to support preparedness and public health action if a case is identified during or after a flight. 

    This ECDC rapid scientific advice builds on the Ebola disease content previously included in the haemorrhagic fevers chapter of the ‘Risk assessment guidelines for diseases transmitted on aircraft (RADIGA)’ [2]. 

    In the original 2010 guidance, Ebola disease was included under haemorrhagic fevers; in 2011, the guidance was expanded to cover additional diseases. 

    This updated information is intended to support public health authorities and other competent national authorities in European Union/European Economic Area countries by providing actions to consider after the identification of a suspected or confirmed Ebola disease case during or after a flight. 

    Early recognition of the disease and risk assessment are needed to support an appropriate public health response when a potentially infectious passenger is identified during or after a flight, while avoiding unnecessary alarm or disruption to air traffic. 

Methods 

    The methods used to develop the original operational guidance are described in the RAGIDA – Part 2 document [2]. 

    For this rapid scientific advice, the content relevant to Ebola disease was reviewed and adapted from the haemorrhagic fevers chapter of that guidance. 

    The text was updated, where needed, in light of evidence and operational experience accrued since the publication of the 2011 guidance. 

    To produce this update, ECDC experts reviewed the peer-reviewed and grey literature for reports relevant to Ebola disease and air travel (Annex 1) and consulted additional operational and guidance documents relevant to public health management in relation to air travel (Annex 2).  

Results of the literature review 

    The literature search did not identify any published reports describing orthoebolavirus transmission events associated with air travel. 

    After the 2013–2016 Ebola disease outbreak in West Africa, several publications described travellers who took commercial flights from West Africa to such countries as the United Kingdom, the United States (US) and Italy who were subsequently diagnosed with Ebola disease [3-7]. 

    However, these reports did not describe symptoms occurring during the flight. 

    In one of these publications, an imported case was detected after the passenger arrived in the US. 

    Public health authorities carried out contact tracing of passengers and crew members who had been on the same flight, as the date of symptom onset was unclear. None of the traced contacts were later found to be positive for Ebola virus infection [5]. 

Ebola disease case definitions 

    For the purposes of this guidance, an index case is a person under investigation or a confirmed case identified during or after a flight, based on the applicable outbreak-specific case definitions in use at the time. 

    For the current outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus in DRC and Uganda, the relevant case definitions are available on the ECDC website [8].  

    In relation to air travel, the key considerations that might prompt contact tracing or other public health action are whether the person met the applicable case definition and was symptomatic during the flight. 

Detection of an index case 

    In this guidance, an ‘index case’ is a person under investigation or a confirmed case identified in relation to a flight. 

    The distinction between identification during a flight or after a flight reflects when the case first comes to the attention of the crew or public health authorities. 

    In both situations, the key question is whether or not the person was symptomatic during the flight, because Ebola disease is not considered transmissible before symptom onset. 

    Symptoms compatible with Ebola disease may include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising. 

 (...)

Suggested citation: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Rapid Scientific Advice. Risk assessment guidelines for diseases transmitted on aircraft (RADIGA) – Ebola disease update. ECDC: Stockholm; 2026.   

© European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, 2026 

Source: 

Link: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/risk-assessment-guidelines-diseases-transmitted-aircraft-radiga-ebola-disease

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