RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Health has confirmed that no cases of the Ebola virus have been detected in Indonesia to date, following the World Health Organization's (WHO) recent declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Despite the clean record at home, Indonesian authorities are rapidly escalating cross-sector vigilance to prevent any potential importation of the virus. Officials noted that the WHO's emergency status signals a critical need for global watchfulness, driven by cross-border transmissions, high mortality rates, and ongoing uncertainties surrounding the true extent of the outbreak in Central Africa.

Health Ministry Bureau of Communications and Public Information Chief Aji Muhawarman said that intensive monitoring is underway across the archipelago's borders. "The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the global situation and strengthen cross-sectoral vigilance. We are ensuring that all entry points, both ports and airports, increase surveillance of travelers, especially those from affected countries," Aji said in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Official data indicates that the outbreak in the DRC's Ituri Province is driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. As of May 16, 2026, the area has recorded 246 suspected cases, which include 8 confirmed cases and 80 fatalities, translating to a stark mortality rate of 32.5 percent. High population mobility and limited local healthcare infrastructure have also led to travel-related cases surfacing in Kampala, Uganda, and Kinshasa.

In response, Indonesia has implemented concrete containment protocols. Border points are reinforcing traveler screenings and deploying field health officers. Furthermore, specialized referral procedures to international-standard hospitals are in place should any arriving passenger present symptoms consistent with the virus.

Data from all national entry points will be integrated around the clock through the Early Awareness and Response System (SKDR) alongside the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC). "National laboratory capacity has also been fully alerted to support rapid detection and early response," Aji added.

Amid rising global concern, the ministry has urged the Indonesian public to remain calm and dismiss unverified rumors or hoaxes circulating on social media networks.

"Ebola is a viral infection that can cause death, with an average fatality rate of up to 50 percent. Currently, there are three types of virus strains that frequently cause outbreaks: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Sudan Virus Disease (SVD), and Bundibugyo Virus Disease (BVD), which is currently developing in Congo," Aji explained, highlighting the critical nature of public health education.

Ebola is transmitted via direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated objects of infected humans or animals, entering the body through broken skin or mucous membranes.

Following an incubation period of 2 to 21 days, symptoms manifest abruptly with fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, and headaches, which can rapidly progress to vomiting, diarrhea, and internal or external bleeding. There is currently no widely available specific treatment, and existing vaccines remain limited to managing active outbreaks within Africa.

As an immediate self-protection measure, the Health Ministry is urging the public to double down on Clean and Healthy Life Behaviors.

Special advisories have also been issued for citizens returning from affected nations like the DRC and Uganda. Returning travelers are strongly advised to visit a healthcare facility immediately if they develop a fever or bleeding within 21 days of arrival. Officials emphasized that transparency regarding travel history remains absolutely paramount to stopping any potential chain of transmission before it starts. ***