Ghana Introduces 21-Day Ebola Monitoring for Travellers From Affected Countries

The Ministry of Health has introduced a 21-day monitoring programme for travellers arriving in Ghana from countries experiencing active transmission of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as part of efforts to prevent the disease from entering and spreading within the country.

Under the new directive, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) will maintain contact with affected travellers throughout the monitoring period to check on their health. Travellers are expected to remain reachable and promptly report any symptoms they experience.

In a statement released on Tuesday, November 3, the Ministry explained that the measure forms part of additional public health measures being enforced at Ghana’s international airports to guard against the importation and spread of the virus.

“Passengers arriving from countries with ongoing transmission will be monitored for up to 21 days. The Ghana Health Service will contact them for follow-up, and they must keep reachable contact details and report any symptoms immediately to the designated contact,” the statement indicated.

The Ministry further disclosed that all passengers entering Ghana would be subjected to health screening by Port Health officers. The exercise will include temperature checks, examination of health declaration forms and assessments of passengers’ travel histories.

Travellers must also provide information about any visits to or transit through countries affected by Ebola within the previous 21 days. They are equally required to disclose any contact with individuals suspected or confirmed to have contracted the disease.

Passengers who exhibit symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme weakness or unexplained bleeding will be referred for further medical evaluation. Depending on their condition, they may be temporarily isolated and provided with the necessary medical care.

The Ministry cautioned that providing inaccurate information, hiding symptoms or refusing to comply with the screening process could attract public health measures in accordance with Ghanaian laws.

It has also instructed hotels, conference centres and other similar facilities to notify the nearest district health directorate whenever they accommodate guests arriving from Ebola-affected countries. Such establishments are also expected to keep the guests’ contact information for follow-up purposes.

Despite the additional precautions, the Ministry emphasised that Ghana has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola, describing the interventions as preventive measures aimed at protecting public health.

It urged Ghanaians to obtain information about the disease from official channels, particularly the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, while cautioning against the circulation of unverified reports.

The announcement comes amid concerns over the spread of Ebola in parts of Africa, where the latest outbreak has reportedly resulted in more than 5,300 deaths, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounting for the majority.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), more than 10,400 cases have been confirmed since the outbreak was declared in May, with the fatality rate exceeding 50 per cent.

Beyond the DRC, the outbreak has also affected other African countries, including Uganda and Kenya, which reportedly recorded their first-ever Ebola infections in October.