Anvisa updates rules and regulations for health measures in ports and airports
Due to the Ebola outbreak in Congo, preventive monitoring protocols were implemented in Brazil
The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency published on Tuesday (June 2nd) a new set of rules stablished in Normative Instruction (IN) 448/2026, which updates the guidelines on temporary health measures to be adopted in ports and airports. The procedures occur due to the current epidemiological international scenario.
A recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). To prevent the disease to enter the country, Brazil adopted complementary monitoring protocols.
According to regulatory authorities, the risk of importing the disease is considered low in the country. However, the scenario demands keeping a state of mobilization and active surveillance. In this context, the new regulation provides for the use of publicity materials in international arrival areas containing important information about the disease.
So far there is no need to adopt any specific health measures for people, means of transport, cargo, and human remains. All measures adopted in Brazil align with the recommendations of the WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Both organizations do not recommend restrictions on international travel, border closures, or the adoption of additional sanitary measures at points of entry outside the affected region.
Measles and Polio
The annex in Normative Instruction (IN) 448/2026 lists the diseases that currently represent a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In addition to Ebola, measles and polio are among the diseases monitored in ports and airports.
Concerning measles disease, guidance for audio alerts on aircraft is still necessary. According to the Ministry of Health, Brazil has eliminated the disease since 2024. But since measles still circulate in the Americas, and since the country has detected some imported cases, the regulatory authority decided to maintain the aircraft preventive alerts.
Regarding poliomyelitis disease, despite the risk of international dissemination as a PHEIC, there is no recommendation for any health measures for airports, ports and borders.
Health Measures for Ports and Airports
Disease Type | Disease | Health Measures | Information Materials |
ESPII | Polio | No specific health measure recommendation | No specific materials |
ESP | Measles | No specific health measure recommendation | Audio alerts on aircraft |
ESPII | Ebola ( caused by Bundibugyo virus) | No specific health measure recommendation | Banners in international arrival areas |