A 19-year-old Ugandan tourist who arrived in Jaipur from Sharjah on Friday was quarantined at Rajasthan University Health Sciences Hospital after developing symptoms resembling those associated with Ebola virus disease.
The authorities said that the infection had not been confirmed and the samples were sent to a specialized laboratory in Pune for examination, while precautionary measures and contact tracing began.
No confirmed case of Ebola has been reported in India so far.
The woman arrived on an Air Arabia flight, and was subsequently placed in a special isolation ward in the hospital, where she is closely monitored by medical teams. Health officials confirmed that her Ebola infection has not yet been confirmed and that laboratory tests are underway to determine the exact cause of her illness.
The authorities said that a final diagnosis will not be made until the test results are received.
Dr Anil Gupta, Superintendent of RUHS Hospital, said: “Some of the symptoms exhibited by the patient are similar to those associated with Ebola virus disease. As a precautionary measure, she has been isolated and all necessary medical protocols are being strictly followed.”
Health Ministry officials have initiated enhanced surveillance measures and are collecting details of individuals who may have been in contact with the woman. If necessary, such contacts will be monitored and tested in accordance with applicable public health guidelines, an official said.
Following the suspected case, all government and private hospitals across the country have been directed to remain vigilant and follow infection control protocols.
Director of Public Health, Ravi Prakash Sharma, said that the administration is in continuous coordination with the medical teams stationed at Jaipur International Airport. “Passengers returning from African countries are placed under special surveillance. If any traveler develops suspicious symptoms, an order for immediate isolation and treatment arrangements will be issued,” Sharma said.
To enhance preparedness for any potential Ebola emergency, the Ministry of Health has designated RUHS Hospital in Jaipur as a designated government facility to handle suspected cases of the disease.
The hospital has established specialized isolation wards and deployed trained medical staff. A stock of essential medicines, personal protective equipment and other infection control resources has also been arranged. Likewise, district hospitals across Rajasthan have been instructed to remain prepared for identification, isolation and initial management of suspected cases.
Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in May advised Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Ebola-affected countries — Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan — after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
India has not reported any cases of Ebola, caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, according to the health ministry.
