Ministry of Health outlines key travel precautions, including hygiene, screening and prompt symptom checks.
Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has issued updated travel guidance to help residents minimise the risk of Ebola infection while travelling abroad, reaffirming that the UAE’s public health situation remains stable and that no confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in the country.
In a public advisory, the ministry outlined a range of precautionary measures for travellers as global health authorities continue to monitor an Ebola outbreak associated with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Health authorities have stated that there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for the Bundibugyo strain, which has been linked to the ongoing outbreak.
According to Emarat Al Youm, the ministry urged travellers to check the latest travel advisories before departure, adhere to health guidance issued by destination countries, maintain strict personal hygiene, and avoid contact with anyone suspected of being infected.
Travellers were also advised to keep a close watch on their health during and after their trip, seek immediate medical attention if symptoms appear, and inform healthcare providers of any recent travel history.
The guidance follows recent advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has recommended against non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
MoHAP stated that Ebola symptoms typically develop between 2 and 21 days after exposure and may begin with fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and body aches, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, the disease can lead to internal or external bleeding, organ failure, and shock.
The ministry also noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the current Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, while maintaining that the overall global risk remains low. The outbreak is largely concentrated in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Ebola, first identified in 1976, is a severe viral disease caused by viruses in the Filoviridae family. There are four main strains known to infect humans: Zaire, Sudan, Taï Forest, and Bundibugyo, with the current outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain first identified in Uganda in 2007.
The ministry said the virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, contaminated surfaces and materials, infected wildlife or animal products, and the bodies of those who have died from the disease.
It stressed that Ebola is not spread through the air in the same way as COVID-19 or influenza, and that infected individuals are typically not contagious until symptoms begin to appear.
Reaffirming national preparedness, the ministry said the UAE continues to maintain strong health surveillance systems and readiness levels through enhanced monitoring, risk assessment, and preventive measures, in coordination with both national and international partners.
The ministry said the virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, contaminated surfaces and materials, infected wildlife or contaminated animal products, as well as the bodies of individuals who have died from the disease.
It emphasised that Ebola is not airborne like COVID-19 or influenza, and that infected people are generally not contagious before symptoms begin.
Reaffirming the country’s preparedness, the ministry said the UAE continues to maintain strong health surveillance and readiness through enhanced monitoring, risk assessment, and preventive measures, in coordination with national and international partners.
