Ghana introduces 21-day monitoring for travellers from Ebola-affected countries

The Ministry of Health has announced a 21-day monitoring period for travellers arriving in Ghana from countries experiencing active transmission of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as part of measures to prevent the disease from entering the country.

Under the arrangement, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) will maintain contact with the affected travellers throughout the monitoring period. They will be required to provide accessible contact details and promptly report any symptoms that may emerge.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, the Ministry said the measure forms part of enhanced public health interventions being implemented at Ghana’s international airports to prevent the importation and spread of the disease.

“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 said.

The Ministry explained that all passengers entering the country would also be screened by Port Health officers through temperature checks and assessments of their health declaration forms and travel histories.

Travellers must disclose whether they have visited or transited through Ebola-affected countries within the previous 21 days, as well as any contact with suspected or confirmed cases.

Passengers who exhibit symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, severe weakness or unexplained bleeding will be referred for further medical assessment. Where necessary, they may be temporarily isolated and provided with medical attention.

The Ministry warned that individuals who provide misleading information, conceal symptoms or refuse to cooperate with screening procedures could face public health measures in accordance with Ghanaian law.

It has also directed hotels, conference centres and similar establishments to notify the nearest district health directorate whenever guests arrive from affected countries and ensure their contact details are available.

The Ministry emphasised that Ghana has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case, describing the measures as precautionary steps to protect public health.

It urged the public to depend on official updates from the Ministry and the GHS and refrain from circulating unverified information about the outbreak.

The precautionary measures come amid the spread of Ebola across parts of Africa, with the latest outbreak reportedly claiming more than 5,300 lives, largely in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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%.

The disease has also been reported beyond the DRC, with confirmed cases in Uganda and Kenya. Kenya recorded its first-ever Ebola infections in October.