Amid global concerns over the Ebola outbreak, the government on Tuesday issued a fresh advisory urging people who have recently travelled from or transited through affected countries to isolate themselves
if they develop symptoms associated with the disease.
In a detailed statement, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said there are currently no confirmed Ebola cases in India. However, it advised travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries to remain vigilant and immediately report symptoms to health authorities.
“If you have travelled from or transited through an Ebola-affected country in the last 21 days and develop symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding, etc., isolate yourself and inform local health authorities,” the advisory read.
The ministry also shared the helpline number 1075 for assistance and urged people to seek help without delay. “Early reporting can save lives and help prevent the spread of disease,” the release said.
The advisory follows the government’s recent recommendation against non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
Ebola In India?
Concerns over Ebola had triggered caution in several countries, including India, in recent weeks. However, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya recently allayed fears after confirming that a suspected Ebola case involving a traveller from the Democratic Republic of the Congo had tested negative.
He urged the public not to panic and to rely only on official information issued by health authorities.
“The report of a suspected patient of the infectious disease Ebola virus originating from Congo has come back negative. Citizens are requested not to harbour any kind of fear or panic and to stay away from rumours, relying only on the official information provided by the Health Department,” he said.
The Ebola Outbreak
Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” after nearly 80 deaths were reported across affected countries. The death toll later crossed 200, while 1,077 suspected cases were recorded since the outbreak began.
While announcing emergency measures for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the WHO said the situation had not yet met the threshold for a pandemic emergency, but cautioned countries sharing borders with the DR Congo about the heightened risk.
Recent developments suggest the situation may be improving. According to a Bloomberg report, authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have reopened the main airport in the eastern province most affected by the outbreak after health officials reported tentative signs of a slowdown.
Despite those developments, efforts to trace exposed contacts and investigate suspected cases remain ongoing.
