Following the declaration of Ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by the Africa Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention, the Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday directed the Union Health Secretary, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to keep all necessary arrangements for tracking, testing and surveillance in a constant state of readiness.
In his review meeting, Nadda said India has not reported any case of Bundibugyo Ebola disease till date.
Nadda noted that as a precautionary measure, the Union Health Ministry, in close coordination with the NCDC, DGHS, ICMR, Civil Aviation, Immigration authorities and other concerned ministries and departments, has strengthened surveillance and public health preparedness across the country.
“Enhanced screening and surveillance measures have been initiated at international airports and other points of entry and advisories along with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on screening, quarantine, clinical management, laboratory testing and infection prevention practices have been shared with all states and union territories,” Nadda noted.
Meetings have also been held with states/UTs and concerned stakeholders to review preparedness and response measures. On May 24, India had issued a travel advisory for citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
Prior to that, on May 21, the Union Health Ministry issued SOP on public health preparedness and response to Ebola disease encompassing protocols to be followed by international passengers and on May 22, guidelines were issued for hospital infection control, isolation facility preparedness and for safe and dignified handling of human remains of Ebola patients.
