New Delhi, May 21: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency due to the rapid spread of the deadly ‘Bundibugyo’ Ebola virus strain in Congo and Uganda in Africa. In this context, the Indian government has declared a high-alert at all major airports and seaports in the country as a precautionary measure. At the same time, strict guidelines have been issued for travelers.
In a high-level meeting chaired by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, all states and union territories have been asked to be fully prepared for the containment of Ebola and strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).
The meeting directed the states to strengthen Ebola surveillance measures across the country and instructed them to follow detailed guidelines regarding strict screening at airports and seaports, quarantine system if necessary, emergency management of patients, referral process and laboratory testing.
All concerned ministries and departments are taking precautions in constant coordination with the Ministry of Health, it has been instructed.
Passengers coming from or transiting through high-risk countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan must inform the airport health desk or health officer before immigration clearance.
If fever or any other symptoms develop within 21 days of returning from Africa (the incubation period of the virus), passengers should immediately consult a doctor and disclose their travel history.
It has been instructed that such passengers should voluntarily report to the health authorities before the immigration process if they have come into contact with infected persons.
Meanwhile, the guidelines have included Congo, Uganda and South Sudan in the list of “high-risk” countries.
Also, passengers from these high-risk countries who develop any such symptoms within 21 days of their arrival in India should seek immediate medical attention and compulsorily report their travel history to the health department officials.
In the interest of passenger safety and international health regulations, everyone is requested to cooperate with the health screening conducted at the airport.
Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has clarified that no Ebola cases have been detected in India so far, and all the measures taken so far are only a precautionary measure.
However, screening has been intensified at major international airports in the country, including Delhi, and special guidelines on Ebola have been displayed.
Passengers with symptoms such as fever, severe fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat and abnormal bleeding in the body have been advised to immediately report to the airport health desk.
The Airport Health Organization has said that travelers from Ebola-affected countries should seek immediate medical attention and inform local health authorities of their travel history if they develop any such symptoms within 21 days of their arrival in India.