Even as the government denied reports of any suspected Ebola virus cases in Rajasthan, confusion prevailed over the issue through the day highlighting its lack of preparedness.
Controversy broke out when a television channel ran a story that two people had been kept under observation at Ajmer on their arrival from an Africa country. The Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, Lal Thadani, told reporters at a training camp that five members of a family who had arrived in Ajmer from West Africa were being watched and their blood samples were sent for testing.
However, B.K. Meena, Director, Public Health, denied this and said no case of suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) had been reported at any hospital in Ajmer. He said these were rumours and the couple had only undergone surveillance at the Jaipur Aiport. There were unconfirmed reports that officials responsible for “spreading” the rumours had been served notices and strict action was being contemplated against him.
The Rajasthan government issued an alert just a day after the World Health Organisation declared Ebola as an international health emergency.
All hospitals have been asked to be ready to deal with Ebola virus cases and a team has been positioned at the international airport to screen the passengers, particularly those coming from the affected countries as per the WHO guidelines.
On Wednesday, the Department of Health organised a workshop in Jaipur to train doctors in identifying, handling and treating Ebola virus cases.
