Ebola, mandatory declaration in Italia for those coming from Congo and Uganda

In Italy, there is an obligation to declare and communicate for those who arrive ‘directly or indirectly’ from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda or who ‘have been in the same areas up to 21 days before entering national territory’: this is what is laid down in the order published in the Official Gazette signed by the Minister of Health, Orazio Schillaci. In the meantime, the ministry has published the circular implementing the rules contained in the ordinance.

People arriving in Italy ‘by any means of transport’ from the two countries in which there are active outbreaks caused by the Bundibugyo (Bvd) strain of the Ebola virus are required to make ‘a signed declaration’ no later than 24 hours after entry, using the form attached to the ordinance, to be sent by e-mail or delivered directly to the Prevention Department of the local health authority of residence or domicile. Within 24 hours, the Regions and Autonomous Provinces will send the declarations by e-mail to the Prevention Department of the Ministry of Health, ‘also giving maximum public diffusion on their respective channels and institutional communication media’.

The ordinance also stipulates that planes and ships arriving in Italy from the two countries, either directly or from intermediate stopovers, will have to warn passengers of the reporting obligation and invite them to fill out and sign the form. The forms will then have to be handed over to the aeroplane or ship’s staff, who will forward them to the airport managers and port authorities, who in turn will send them to the competent health authorities, i.e. the Maritime, Air and Border Health Offices (Usmaf) of the Ministry of Health and Local Health Authorities.

In the event of symptoms for a passenger or crew member on a flight bound for Italia from a country with an active outbreak of infection by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, the aircraft will only be allowed to land at the Fiumicino medical airport, where the procedures envisaged for such cases by the orders issued by the Maritime, Air and Frontier Health Offices – Services for the Medical Assistance to Aircrew (Usmaf-Sasn) will be implemented. This is laid down in the circular issued by the Ministry of Health.