Why airport forms won’t keep Ebola out

India introduced a mandatory health declaration for all international air passengers in response to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Africa.

The form asks for personal details, seat numbers, symptoms, recent travel, and possible exposures.

Effectiveness is questionable due to challenges in accurate data collection, as travellers may forget, misunderstand, or omit information.

The form's usefulness depends on digitisation, reliable contact details, and integration into a surveillance system, which is unclear.

Ebola has a 21-day incubation period and is not contagious before symptoms, making border detection difficult; targeted measures may be more effective.