The Union health ministry has issued a fresh advisory asking passengers arriving from, or transiting through, Ebola-affected countries to immediately inform airport health authorities if they experience symptoms linked to the disease.
The advisory, released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, identified the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan as high-risk nations for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
“Attention passengers coming from or transiting through affected countries: Passengers who have travelled from countries reporting Ebola Virus Disease — DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan (High Risk Country) — and are experiencing any of the following symptoms must take immediate action,” the DGHS advisory stated.
The ministry listed symptoms such as fever, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat and unexplained bleeding. Travellers were also advised to self-report if they had direct exposure to the blood or bodily fluids of a person suspected or confirmed to have Ebola.
“Immediately report to the airport health officer or health desk before immigration clearance,” the advisory added.
The directive further said that any traveller developing symptoms within 21 days of arriving in India must seek immediate medical attention and disclose their recent travel history to health authorities.
“Any traveller developing above-mentioned symptoms within 21 days of arrival should immediately seek medical care and also inform healthcare authorities about their travel history. Please cooperate with health screening and public health measures in the interest of passenger safety and International Health Regulations (IHR),” the advisory noted.
A day earlier, Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired a high-level review meeting with states and Union Territories to assess preparedness and response mechanisms related to Ebola.
During the meeting, states and UTs were instructed to maintain readiness at all levels, even as the Centre clarified that no Ebola case has been detected in India so far.
However, after the World Health Organization declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the government intensified surveillance and preparedness measures across the country as a precautionary move.
According to the ministry, 51 Ebola cases have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo so far, though the WHO believes the actual spread of the outbreak could be significantly larger.
Uganda has also informed the WHO about two confirmed cases in capital Kampala, including one death, involving individuals who had recently travelled from the DRC.
The ministry stated that the list of high-risk countries has been prepared on the basis of WHO bulletins and will continue to be revised in line with updates issued by the UN health agency.
“The government of India remains fully vigilant and prepared to respond swiftly to any emerging situation. Citizens are advised that there is no cause for panic, while continuing to follow official advisories and updates issued by health authorities,” a senior health ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com