Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Thursday issued an Ebola alert, asking sick passengers from or transiting through affected countries to report to the airport health officer “immediately”.
This comes a day after the Union Health Minister held a high-level review meeting with the states on Wednesday to take stock of preparedness and response measures in relation to the Ebola virus disease (EVD).
Delhi Airport listed Congo, Uganda and South Sudan as “high-risk” countries, and asked sick passengers arriving from and transiting through them to take immediate action.
So far, 51 cases have been confirmed in the DRC, although the World Health Organization said it recognizes that the scale of the epidemic in the DRC is much larger.
“CAUTION: Passengers arriving from or transiting through affected countries,” read the warning headline.
What does the consultation say?
The airport listed fever, weakness or fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained bleeding and sore throat as symptoms to watch for.
Passengers who have been in direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person with suspected or confirmed Ebola infection are also required to notify the airport health officer or health office immediately before obtaining immigration clearance.
“Any traveler who develops the above symptoms within 21 days of arrival should seek medical attention immediately and inform healthcare authorities of their travel history,” the warning read.
“Please cooperate with health screening and public health measures in the interest of passenger safety and International Health Regulations (IHR),” she said.
Ebola virus disease is a serious and often fatal disease endemic in the tropical forests of Congo. According to the Africa CDC, it spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people, contaminated materials, or those who have died from the disease.
