A 28-year-old Ugandan woman suspected of having symptoms of the Ebola virus has tested negative, Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Wednesday.
According to officials, the woman – who arrived from an Ebola-hit area – was transferred from a hotel to the State Epidemic Hospital on Tuesday after she showed mild symptoms such as body aches.
Her blood samples were collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing.
The state’s Minister of Health said in a post on the
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He added: “All required medical protocols and precautionary measures were strictly followed in accordance with applicable public health guidelines.”
Rao said that the Karnataka Health Department continues to closely monitor the situation and remains fully prepared to take all necessary measures in the interest of public health and safety.
He added: “We advise citizens not to panic, follow the established health guidelines, and rely only on the official information and guidelines issued by the government and the Ministry of Health.”
The World Health Organization declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.
In response to the Ebola outbreak in several African countries, the Karnataka Health Department has advised individuals who have recently traveled to affected countries to undergo health surveillance and self-observation for 21 days after their return.
The administration said those showing symptoms should immediately report to the nearest health facility, while rapid response teams (RRTs) will carry out surveillance activities.
According to the World Health Organization website, Ebola is a serious and often fatal disease that affects humans and other primates.
The virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines, and non-human primates) and then spreads between humans through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other body fluids of infected people, as well as with surfaces and materials (eg, bedding and clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
