The Ebola Virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Uganda is now triggering stricter airport checks and health controls worldwide. For Indian travellers connecting through Africa, Southeast Asia, or the Gulf, this matters more than it may first appear.

Here’s a quick look at the countries already tightening rules for travellers linked to Ebola-affected regions.

1. Thailand

Thailand moved quickly after the WHO emergency declaration and officially classified the DRC and Uganda as infected areas from May 21, 2026. Travellers arriving from affected countries now face:

• Mandatory Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) declarations
• Health screening at airports
• Temperature checks
• Possible follow-up monitoring by Thai health authorities

Thai nationals must also register through the Thai Health Pass system.

For Indians using Bangkok as a transit hub to East Asia or Australia, expect extra questions if your itinerary includes Central or East Africa.

2. South Korea

South Korea has expanded quarantine screening under its Q-CODE system. The DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan are now under enhanced inspection rules. Travellers may need to:

• Submit a Q-CODE health declaration
• Fill out additional health forms
• Undergo enhanced arrival screening
• Face extra quarantine checks

South Korea has also upgraded travel advisories for Uganda and parts of the DRC, especially Ituri province.

This is another reminder that digital health declarations are quietly becoming a permanent part of international travel.

3. India

India has issued an official advisory covering passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected countries, including the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan.

Affected passengers must report to airport health officials before immigration if they have symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Sore throat
• Unexplained bleeding

The same applies to travellers who had direct contact with suspected Ebola patients.

Indian authorities are also asking travellers to monitor symptoms for 21 days after arrival and immediately report any illness.

For Indian passport holders, this currently looks more like heightened surveillance than outright restrictions. But airport checks can tighten very fast if cases spread further.

4. United States

The United States has gone further than most countries by introducing targeted entry restrictions. According to the CDC:

• Non-U.S. passport holders who visited the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days may face restrictions
• Enhanced screening and monitoring measures are already active
• Additional entry controls may apply at U.S. airports

The U.S. has also raised its advisory for the DRC to Level 4: Do Not Travel.

Indian travellers flying to the U.S. after African business trips or safari itineraries should double-check airline and transit requirements before departure.

What Travellers Should Expect Now

Countries are not shutting borders completely. At least not yet. What’s happening instead is a rapid expansion of health surveillance at airports.

Travellers linked to affected regions may face:

• Health declaration forms
• Arrival screening
• Temperature checks
• Contact tracing requirements
• Monitoring for 21 days after arrival

WHO says the regional risk remains high because of cross-border movement between eastern DRC, Uganda, and neighbouring countries, though global risk is still considered low.

Take

We’re seeing the return of rapid-response airport health controls before full travel bans. For Indian travellers, Africa-linked itineraries now need far more planning, especially for transit-heavy international routes.

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