Ghana Steps Up Ebola Screening at Accra Airport for Arriving Travellers

Ghana has tightened health checks at its airports as it prepares for a possible importation of Ebola, even though the country has not recorded any case of the disease. The measures come weeks after Nigeria confirmed its first case since the May outbreak in DR Congo.

Key facts

• 29 October 2026: Ghana's health ministry outlined the new airport measures
• Thermal scanners installed at Accra international airport to screen arriving passengers
• Electronic health declaration forms must be completed by passengers entering Ghana
• Ghana has recorded no Ebola cases so far
• DR Congo's outbreak has recorded over 10,000 cases and almost 5,000 deaths

What is changing at Ghana's airport?

Thermal scanners have been installed at Accra international airport to screen passengers arriving in the country. Ghana's health minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the scanners will help screen people entering Ghana and support contact tracing if any case is found.

A triage area has also been set up so that airport authorities can examine anyone who shows signs of illness. The port health section at the airport has deployed electronic declaration forms, which passengers must complete so authorities can assess their health condition and trace contacts quickly if a suspected or confirmed case appears.

What else has Ghana prepared?

The minister said the country has improved its laboratory capacity to support testing and diagnosis, naming the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and the national reference laboratory. He added that Ghana has an infectious disease treatment centre to isolate and manage patients if the virus enters the country.

The Ghana Health Service is also warning people not to touch, move, sell or give away sick or dead animals, and to report unexplained animal deaths to the nearest veterinary office. Authorities continue to advise regular handwashing with soap under running water or alcohol-based hand sanitiser, avoiding contact with body fluids, and visiting the nearest health facility immediately in case of fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, vomiting or unexpected bleeding.

Why is this happening now?

Nigeria confirmed its first case since the outbreak that began in DR Congo in May, where over 10,000 cases and almost 5,000 deaths have been recorded and at least 2,600 people have recovered. The disease currently has no vaccine, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which says Ebola can pass to humans through contact with infected wild animals including fruit bats, monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, forest antelopes and porcupines.

The Nigerian patient, who is from Switzerland, has been evacuated to her home country for treatment. Nigeria's health minister, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the government released ₦10bn ($6.7m) in emergency funding for laboratory testing, protective equipment, health workers and containment measures, and that medical personnel are receiving additional training.

What are other countries in the region doing?

Kenya had nine confirmed cases, including two deaths, as at 26 October, with the last case reported on 20 October 2026, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. A man who had contact with a person who died in Kenya is under quarantine in Somalia, with samples sent to Kenya for testing; the suspected case travelled through Ethiopia, which has also tightened surveillance.

In Tanzania, visitors are expected to undergo daily health monitoring for 21 days through an automated tracking system. Uganda said it is maintaining strong surveillance measures, and Cameroon's Minister for Public Health, Dr Manaouda Malachie, said on 22 October that the country has no cases but is preparing equipment and logistics to isolate and treat patients.

What this means for travellers

Passengers arriving at Accra international airport should expect to be screened by thermal scanners and to complete an electronic health declaration form. Anyone who develops fever, headache, muscle pain, chills, vomiting or unexpected bleeding should go to the nearest health facility immediately, the Ghana Health Service advises.

Ghana's health minister urged people not to panic, noting that the country is already welcoming visitors preparing for December tourism activities. Authorities say they must stay alert to detect and handle any suspected case quickly.