New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed all states and Union territories to enhance disease surveillance, hospital preparedness, and screening of international travellers. This directive follows the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that on May 21, the Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava communicated the directive via letter to chief secretaries and administrators of all states and Union territories. The advisory highlighted that countries bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, have been identified as high-risk zones for disease transmission.
While the current assessment suggests a low risk of Ebola transmission to countries outside the affected African region, the substantial volume of international trade and travel necessitates robust preparedness and response capabilities across all levels of the healthcare system. The Ministry has thus instructed states to reinforce surveillance measures under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). This includes monitoring for unusual clusters of cases exhibiting symptoms suggestive of Ebola, particularly among individuals with recent travel history to the affected areas.
The advisory detailed the key symptoms associated with Ebola disease, which include fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, rash, and red eyes. States have been further directed to identify and designate isolation facilities and dedicated ambulances. Ensuring the availability of trained healthcare personnel, personal protective equipment (PPE), necessary logistics, adequate laboratory support, and critical care capacities are also paramount.
The Ministry also affirmed that the Indian Council of Medical Research’s (ICMR) National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune is fully equipped to handle sample testing for suspected Ebola cases. These cases could be detected either at points of entry or within the community. Depending on the evolving epidemiological situation, additional ICMR network laboratories will be strengthened to support testing efforts.
Coordination among airport and port health authorities, state and district surveillance units, and other relevant agencies has been stressed for the prompt sharing of information and the follow-up of travellers requiring public health monitoring. The accompanying Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) mandates thermal screening and health monitoring for passengers arriving from affected countries. Individuals presenting with symptoms suggestive of Ebola will be transferred to designated isolation facilities for immediate testing and treatment.
The SOP also outlines a 21-day monitoring period for travellers arriving from Ebola-affected regions. It provides detailed protocols for quarantine, infection prevention and control measures, laboratory testing procedures, contact tracing, and clinical management guidelines. States and Union territories have been requested to conduct an immediate review of their existing preparedness plans. This review aims to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place for the timely detection and effective response to any potential public health event of international concern.
The Chenab Times News Desk