No case of Ebola virus disease has been reported in the country so far, the government said on Monday, as Union Health Minister JP Nadda reviewed preparedness and surveillance measures to prevent any possible outbreak in India.
According to an official statement, during a high-level meeting with senior officials of the Union Health Ministry, Nadda assessed the country’s preparedness amid global concern over Ebola and directed that all preventive mechanisms remain fully alert and operational.
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The statement said that, based on the minister’s directives, the Federal Minister of Health chaired a joint review meeting with officials from various ministries and concerned authorities to enhance coordination and preparedness measures.
She added that Nada had instructed the authorities to keep Ebola screening arrangements at all entry points across the country, including airports, seaports and land border crossings, fully vigilant and robust.
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He also directed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that all necessary arrangements for tracking, testing and surveillance remain in a state of continuous readiness.
The center intensified precautionary measures after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also classified it as a Public Health Emergency for Continental Security (PHECS).
Officials said surveillance at ports of entry and inter-agency coordination are being closely monitored to ensure early detection and rapid response to any suspected case.
