Ebola outbreak: Malaysia ramps up preparedness and surveillance measures

The ministry has confirmed that no Ebola cases have been reported in the country to date, but says monitoring has been stepped up at international entry points due to the risk of imported cases.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has strengthened national preparedness and surveillance measures following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo strain as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The declaration was made on 17 May 2026, following outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

As of 16 May, WHO reported eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province, DRC. Uganda has also reported two laboratory-confirmed cases in Kampala, including one death, involving individuals with a travel history from DRC.

MOH stressed that no Ebola cases have been reported in Malaysia to date. However, given the risk of imported cases through international travel, the ministry said it is continuing to strengthen preparedness and monitoring measures.

There are currently no direct flights from DRC or Uganda to Malaysia. Even so, MOH said it is monitoring travellers entering Malaysia from the two countries, including those transiting through international hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Singapore.

The ministry said screening and monitoring efforts are being enhanced to assess public health risks and implement early prevention measures.

Ebola is a serious infectious disease that can be fatal. It spreads through close contact with the blood or body fluids of infected individuals or animals. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, and, in some cases, bleeding.

To strengthen national readiness, MOH has implemented and enhanced several measures, including:

• stepping up surveillance and monitoring at all international points of entry, including airports and seaports;
• improving early case detection through the existing infectious disease surveillance system, especially among symptomatic individuals with travel history to affected areas;
• enhancing the preparedness of health facilities for the detection, isolation, and management of suspected cases, including compliance with infection prevention and control measures;
• ensuring the readiness of personal protective equipment and training for healthcare workers;
• increasing laboratory diagnostic capacity for viral haemorrhagic fever detection through collaboration with the Institute of Medical Research and the National Public Health Laboratory, and
• enhancing global risk coordination and monitoring with WHO, the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, airlines, and related agencies.

MOH has advised individuals with a history of travel to affected countries to seek immediate medical treatment if they develop symptoms such as fever, body aches, vomiting, or bleeding within 21 days of returning. The public has also been urged to obtain information only from official MOH and WHO sources, and to avoid spreading unverified information that may cause public concern.

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