South Africa has introduced a mandatory pre‑travel health questionnaire for travellers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as both countries battle an Ebola outbreak that has killed over 800 people and infected more than 2,000 since May.
The Department of Health said travellers must complete the travel health questionnaire up to 24 hours before departure to South Africa to ensure smoother processing on arrival.
The measure comes as authorities seek to strengthen early detection and reduce the risk of cross‑border transmission.
South Africa’s health authorities said the new requirement is part of broader preparedness efforts to monitor travellers from affected regions and ensure rapid response should any suspected cases be detected.
The Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda has intensified in recent months, with health officials reporting sustained community spread and high fatality rates.
The DRC has faced repeated Ebola flare‑ups over the past decade, while Uganda has experienced several outbreaks linked to cross‑border movement and delayed case reporting.
JN/APA