Union health minister JP Nadda chaired a high-level meeting to review India's preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease following recent cases in Congo and Uganda. Officials were directed to maintain strict screening at entry points. No cases have been reported in India so far.
Union health minister JP Nadda chaired the meeting on Monday. The health ministry stated that Nadda ordered full vigilance in screening travellers at all points of entry. He also directed the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Centre for Disease Control to maintain constant readiness for tracking, testing and surveillance.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda have reported Ebola cases recently. South Sudan faces a high risk of transmission. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern while the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has designated it a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.
As of May, 85 confirmed cases and 10 deaths were reported across both countries. The ministry noted that the health secretary held a joint review meeting with officials from various ministries and agencies. Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain and carries a high mortality rate. No vaccines or specific treatments have been approved yet.