SRINAGAR: The Union Health Ministry has directed all States and Union Territories to strengthen disease surveillance, hospital preparedness and screening of international travellers following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
In a communication issued on May 21 to chief secretaries and UT administrators, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said countries neighbouring the affected regions, including South Sudan, may face an increased risk of transmission, requiring heightened precautionary measures within public health systems.
The ministry said that while the risk outside the affected African region remains low, increased international travel and trade necessitate continued vigilance and preparedness to respond to potential health emergencies.
States and UTs have been asked to strengthen monitoring under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) to identify unusual clusters of illness, particularly among individuals with recent travel history to Ebola-affected countries.
The advisory lists key symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease, including fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, skin rash and red eyes.
Authorities have also been directed to ensure the availability of isolation facilities, dedicated ambulances, personal protective equipment, trained healthcare personnel, laboratory capacity and critical care arrangements.
The ministry said the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, under the Indian Council of Medical Research, is equipped to test suspected Ebola samples from airports, seaports and surveillance systems, with additional laboratories to be upgraded if required.
It further called for coordination between airport and port health authorities, district surveillance units and other agencies to ensure timely tracking and follow-up of travellers requiring public health monitoring.
According to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), passengers arriving from affected countries will undergo thermal screening and health assessment at points of entry. Symptomatic individuals will be shifted to designated isolation facilities for testing and treatment.
The SOP also provides for 21-day monitoring of travellers from affected regions and outlines protocols for quarantine, infection control, laboratory diagnosis, contact tracing and treatment.
The Health Secretary has urged States and UTs to immediately review preparedness measures and ensure robust systems for early detection and response to any potential public health threat.
