The Indian government has also issued an alert amid increasing cases of Ebola in African countries Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The Union Health Ministry directed all states and union territories to prepare hospitals, increase testing and surveillance of international travelers. Health of travelers coming from affected African countries has been asked to be monitored for 21 days and if symptoms are found, they have been asked to be kept in a separate ward.
Let us tell you that recently the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda as a global health emergency. The Central Government has issued this advisory only after this.
Center asked to increase preparations in hospitals
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, in a letter to chief secretaries of states and administrators of union territories on May 21, said that there is a higher risk of the disease spreading in countries adjacent to Congo and Uganda. This also includes South Sudan. The Center directed states and union territories to make adequate arrangements for creating separate wards, arranging ambulances, trained health workers, PPE kits, necessary logistics, laboratory support and treatment of critical patients.
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Instructions to increase surveillance
In the letter, the ministry said, ‘According to the current assessment, the risk in countries outside the affected African region is low. But given the widespread international trade and travel, it is important to maintain adequate preparedness and response capacity at all levels of the health system. The Union Health Ministry directed to increase surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program to identify recent travelers from the affected African country.
There will be thermal screening of passengers coming from Africa
According to the SOP, if a person has come from Congo, Uganda or Sudan, he will undergo thermal screening. There will be health monitoring for 21 days. If symptoms of Ebola are found then that passenger will be kept in a separate center. People who came in contact will also be identified, so that the infection does not spread further. The advisory also stressed coordination and immediate information sharing between airports, port health authorities, state and district surveillance units and other agencies.
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symptoms of ebola
- Fever
- Weakness
- muscle pain
- Headache
- sore throat
- vomiting, diarrhea
- stomach pain
- skin rashes
- redness of eyes
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