S. Korea to Tighten Quarantine Measures on Entries from 7 African Nations to Prevent Ebola Virus

Seoul (The Uttam Hindu): South Korea is set to strengthen quarantine measures for inbound travelers from seven African nations to prevent the potential spread of the Ebola virus, the country's health authorities announced on Wednesday. This decision comes after Uganda reported its first Ebola death in two years.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) stated that travelers from Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Ethiopia will be subject to additional health checks upon arrival in South Korea. They will be required to report any symptoms such as fever or rash to quarantine officers as part of enhanced monitoring.

Uganda recently declared an Ebola outbreak following the death of a 32-year-old nurse in the capital city, Kampala. As of Wednesday, Uganda has confirmed nine Ebola infections, including one death, and 265 contacts of the first case are being closely monitored.

"Ebola virus disease is not spreading rapidly in other countries, as it is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids or tissues of an infected person," said KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee. "However, we are taking extra precautions to minimize the risk of the disease spreading to South Korea."

Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic fever, can cause severe symptoms like vomiting, bleeding, and neurological issues. It spreads to humans through contact with animals such as bats, nonhuman primates, and antelopes, and can be transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids.

Although Ebola outbreaks are rare, they have occurred regularly since the virus was first recognized in 1976 in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The largest outbreak occurred between 2014 and 2016, resulting in 28,646 cases and 11,323 deaths across 10 countries. South Korea’s move is part of global efforts to prevent the further spread of the virus, particularly from high-risk areas in Africa.