RISK OF CROSS-BORDER TRANSMISSION OF EBOLA TO SINGAPORE ASSESSED TO BE LOW

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1255
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER  09 SEPTEMBER 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Ms Hany Soh
MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC

Question No. 2866
To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health whether the Ministry assesses there to be any risk of cross-border transmission leading to Singapore due to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Answer

1        Sir, the risk of cross-border transmission of Ebola to Singapore is assessed to be low. First, there are no direct flights between Singapore and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and travel volume between our countries is low. Second, Ebola is primarily spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons. The outbreak in DRC is driven by delayed identification of cases and poor infection control practices in the community and healthcare settings. It does not spread easily in settings with strong public health practices and healthcare infrastructure, as we have in Singapore.

2        Nevertheless, we must be vigilant and will continue to monitor the outbreak and the spread of deadly pathogens around the world, including Ebola, and be ready to respond.