India has intensified the surveillance in airports. Quarantine protocols and traveller monitoring has also intensified after two suspected Ebola cases were reported in Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, prompting health authorities across multiple states to activate emergency preparedness systems .
Officials have confirmed that there is no outbreak of the disease but special measures are being taken due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, particularly Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo .
A 28-year-old woman from Uganda was isolated in Bengaluru after developing body ache and fatigue shortly after arriving in India through Ahmedabad.
Initial samples were sent for testing to Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV). The samples tested negative for Ebola though officials said that she remains under medical observation and will undergo more round of testing as a precaution.
Similarly in Gujarat, a businessman from Congo and three of his contacts have been quarantined at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after displaying symptoms . There samples have been sent to NIV Pune for testing.
What is Ebola?
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare but severe viral illness caused by the Ebola virus. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, saliva, vomit or contaminated surfaces from infected individuals or animals.
The disease was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Symptoms of Ebola
Common symptoms include:
Sudden high fever, Severe headache, Muscle pain and weakness, Fatigue, Vomiting and diarrhoea, Stomach pain, Skin rashes, Internal or external bleeding in severe cases
Health officials said symptoms may appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure.
Preventive Measures Being Taken in India
Authorities across India have launched multiple preventive measures, including:
Enhanced screening at international airports, Monitoring passengers arriving from African nations, Isolation and quarantine protocols for symptomatic travellers, Contact tracing for suspected patients, Deployment of airport health organisation teams, Testing through the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune
Officials stated that even mildly symptomatic travellers are being isolated as a precautionary step.
States and Cities on Alert
Health surveillance has reportedly been intensified in:
Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Delhi, Maharashtra, International airports including Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Delhi
Ahmedabad airport has already begun special screening for passengers arriving from African countries.
The Union Health Ministry has advised states to remain fully vigilant while urging the public not to panic or spread misinformation.
The World Health Organization recently declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Central Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), increasing global concern over cross-border transmission risks.