The government issued a new warning on Tuesday amid a global Ebola scare, urging those who have traveled from or transited through the affected country to “isolate” themselves.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare explained in a detailed statement that there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in India, and said that those who have traveled to countries affected by Ebola and show some specific symptoms should isolate and inform local health authorities.
“If you have traveled from or transited through an Ebola-affected country in the past 21 days and develop symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained bleeding, etc., isolate yourself and report it to local health authorities,” the advisory said.
The government has also shared the helpline number – 1075 – to be used to contact the authorities for any assistance. “Early reporting can save lives and help prevent the spread of the disease,” the statement said.
The new warnings came days after the government listed the countries to which travel should be avoided, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
Is Ebola feared in India?
The Ebola outbreak has raised concerns across the world, including India, over the past few weeks. However, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pancheria recently allayed fears, confirming that the suspected case was a traveler from the Democratic Republic of Congo who had tested negative for the virus.
The Minister urged citizens not to panic and to rely on the information provided by the Ministry of Health to stay away from any rumours.
He added, “The report of a suspected case of infection with the contagious Ebola virus coming from the Congo was negative. Citizens are requested not to feel any kind of fear or panic, stay away from rumors, and rely only on the official information provided by the Ministry of Health.”
What’s the latest on the Ebola outbreak?
Last month, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” after about 80 people died in affected countries. The toll later exceeded 200 cases, and 1,077 suspected cases have been reported since the outbreak began.
In its declaration for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the World Health Organization made it clear that Ebola did not yet meet the criteria for an epidemic emergency, but warned countries that share borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo of a high risk.
However, things seem to have eased up since then. According to the latest Bloomberg report, Congo has reopened the main airport in the eastern province hardest hit by the Ebola virus, after health officials reported initial signs that the outbreak may be slowing.
However, the struggle to trace exposed contacts and investigate suspected cases continues.
