With an extremely high footfall of international travellers, Delhi is among several other States in the country that have been issued strict direction by the Union Health Ministry to “monitor the risk of Ebola virus entering the general population”.
Stating that India is not a high-risk country, the Ministry cautioned that measures should be immediately put in place to deal with any case of the virus imported to India.
The Director-General of Health Services has issued directions to the State Disease Surveillance Units to be on alert for early detection and management of travel-related cases reported from the community. Laboratory capacity has also been strengthened at the National Institute of Virology in Pune and the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi for diagnosis.
“The risk of transmission to countries outside the African region is low. However, as a matter of abundant precaution, we will obtain the details of travellers originating or transiting from Ebola virus-affected countries to India. This information will be gathered from the airlines and our missions concerned and tracking these persons after their arrival in India till their final destination in the country will be done,” said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
The government has also made mandatory self-reporting by passengers coming from or transiting through the affected countries. This will be required at the time of immigration check.
“Instructions have been passed onto State/Union Territory Administrations to identify nodal officers and designate hospitals with isolation wards for responding to any possible cases,” said a senior health official.
Delhi and other States have been asked to keep personal protection equipment ready for the healthcare workers. “Treatment and diagnostic protocols for Ebola will be placed on the Ministry’s website and disseminated to various stakeholders. The Indian Medical Association is also being requested to inform all members regarding the diagnostic and treatment protocols,” said Dr. Vardhan.
— Bindu Shajan Perappadan
Published - August 09, 2014 07:31 am IST
