The Ministry of Health has announced enhanced screening and monitoring measures for passengers arriving at all international airports in Ghana in response to an ongoing outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in some African countries.
In a statement issued signed by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the ministry said the measures were intended to minimise the risk of the disease being imported into Ghana and spreading through international travel.
Ghana has not recorded a confirmed case of Ebola disease, the statement said, describing the measures as precautionary and subject to review as the situation evolves.
Under the measures, all arriving passengers must complete a Health Declaration Form and truthfully disclose any travel to or transit through Ebola-affected countries within the previous 21 days.
Travellers must also report close contact with a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient, visits to health facilities managing Ebola cases, participation in funeral or burial rites involving suspected cases, and contact with blood, body fluids or contaminated materials from an ill person.
Passengers experiencing fever, severe weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding or bruising have been advised to postpone travel and seek immediate medical attention.
On arrival, Port Health officers will screen every passenger using non-contact temperature checks, reviews of health declaration forms and travel histories, and further questions about symptoms and possible exposure where necessary.
Passengers with symptoms suggestive of Ebola, recent travel from or through affected countries, or possible exposure to a case will undergo secondary assessment. They may be temporarily isolated in a designated area for evaluation and referred to a health facility where necessary.
The Ghana Health Service will also monitor passengers arriving from countries with ongoing transmission for up to 21 days. The travellers will be contacted for follow-up and must provide reachable contact details and immediately report any symptoms that develop after arrival.
The measures also require hotels, conference venues and similar facilities to report guests arriving from affected countries to the nearest district health directorate of the Ghana Health Service. Such facilities must keep records and contact details of people accessing their premises while the guests are being hosted.
All arriving passengers are expected to cooperate with Port Health officers, provide truthful travel and health information, follow screening instructions and practise frequent hand hygiene. They must also report any symptoms that develop during a flight or at the airport.
The ministry warned that passengers who knowingly provide false information, conceal symptoms or refuse to comply with screening requirements will be subject to public health measures under Ghanaian law.
It urged the public to rely on official information from the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service and avoid spreading rumours. People with health concerns may contact a Port Health officer at an airport or visit the nearest health facility.
The ministry said the measures align with commitments made at a recent Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) ministerial meeting on Ebola, where African Union member states agreed to strengthen cross-border and border-point surveillance while keeping borders open and investing in measures to prevent transmission.
