India Screens 10,974 Travellers From Ebola-Affected Nations With No Cases Found

India has screened 10,974 international travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries since May 23 after the World Health Organization declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with no case detected in the country so far. [1] The government said surveillance and preparedness were intensified across the country following the WHO declaration. [1]

India Screens Nearly 11,000 Travellers With No Ebola Cases Detected

India has screened 10,974 international travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries since May 23 after the World Health Organization declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with no case detected in the country so far, the Centre informed Parliament on Friday. [1] The government said surveillance and preparedness were intensified across the country following the WHO declaration, with enhanced screening at airports and other points of entry, mandatory travel declarations, designated isolation facilities, expanded laboratory capacity and nationwide mock drills to prepare for any suspected case. [1] According to the ministry of health and family welfare, all international passengers are screened for recent travel to Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. [1] The government has not imposed a blanket travel ban, but passengers with travel history to these countries during the previous 21 days are identified through Self Declaration Forms, including the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal. [1] Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said the Centre had coordinated its response with the National Centre for Disease Control, Indian Council of Medical Research, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other agencies to strengthen surveillance and preparedness. [1] The health ministry said no Ebola case has been reported in India so far. [1]

Suspected Ebola Case Involving BSF Constable Undergoing Testing

A 52-year-old BSF constable who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of an Indian UN peacekeeping contingent has been admitted to the isolation ward at the Ebola Nursing Home of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after developing fever during mandatory quarantine, triggering Ebola surveillance protocols. [2] The constable, who arrived in India on July 11, had been under a 21-day quarantine at the Airport Health Organisation facility following his return from Congo, an Ebola-endemic region. [2] On the evening of 20th day of quarantine, he developed a fever along with body aches. [2] As per protocol, he was shifted to the designated Ebola isolation facility at RML Hospital. [2] His blood sample has been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for confirmatory testing. [2] The test report is awaited. [2] Officials said the patient is being managed in strict isolation while health authorities continue to monitor the situation. [2] At present, the case remains suspected, and Ebola infection has not been confirmed. [2] India follows enhanced screening and quarantine measures for personnel returning from Ebola-affected regions. [2] Suspected cases are isolated immediately and samples are tested at designated reference laboratories before a diagnosis is confirmed. [2]

Enhanced Screening and Quarantine Protocols Activated

All international passengers are screened for recent travel to Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan—countries affected by the Ebola outbreak. [1] The government has not imposed a blanket travel ban, but passengers with travel history to these countries during the previous 21 days are identified through Self Declaration Forms, including the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal. [1] India follows enhanced screening and quarantine measures for personnel returning from Ebola-affected regions. [2] Suspected cases are isolated immediately and samples are tested at designated reference laboratories before a diagnosis is confirmed. [2] The constable who arrived in India on July 11 had been under a 21-day quarantine at the Airport Health Organisation facility following his return from Congo. [2] On the evening of 20th day of quarantine, he developed a fever along with body aches and was shifted to the designated Ebola isolation facility at RML Hospital. [2]

Preparedness Measures Include Labs, Drills and Inter-Agency Coordination

The preparedness measures include issuing standard operating procedures covering surveillance, quarantine, laboratory testing, infection prevention and clinical management. [1] They also include identifying and operationalising isolation facilities across states and Union Territories, expanding diagnostic capacity through ICMR-NIV Pune and additional Biosafety Level-3 laboratories, deploying additional doctors and paramedical staff at major international airports, and conducting mock drills in designated hospitals nationwide. [1] The Centre had coordinated its response with the National Centre for Disease Control, Indian Council of Medical Research, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Civil Aviation and other agencies to strengthen surveillance and preparedness. [1] The government has also strengthened public awareness through airport displays, in-flight announcements, social media campaigns and a 24×7 national helpline while activating the NCDC Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the response. [1]

Airport Screening Volumes Highest in Mumbai and Gujarat

Mumbai accounted for the highest number of screened passengers at 7,568, followed by Delhi at 1,833, Hyderabad at 532, Chennai at 210, Bengaluru at 205 and Ahmedabad at 200. [1] At the state level, Gujarat recorded the highest number of screened passengers at 2,905, followed by Maharashtra at 2,228, Uttar Pradesh at 785, Tamil Nadu at 731, Telangana at 624 and Kerala at 554. [1]

Public Awareness and Helpline Part of Nationwide Response

The government has also strengthened public awareness through airport displays, in-flight announcements, social media campaigns and a 24×7 national helpline while activating the NCDC Public Health Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the response. [1] The health ministry said no Ebola case has been reported in India so far. [1]

What to watch next: The test report for the BSF constable’s sample sent to NIV Pune remains awaited while authorities continue strict isolation and monitoring under existing protocols for personnel returning from Ebola-affected regions.