Ebola Outbreak: India On High Alert

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]The Ebola scare has now landed on India's very doorstep. You see, two suspected cases linked to Africa have triggered a nationwide health alert.

[00:00:08]Surveillance has been tightened at airports, hospitals, and even immigration counters. India's also ramping up screening, quarantine, and emergency response protocols. You see, the first scare came in from Karnataka states Bengaluru. A 28-year-old woman who recently returned from Uganda was quarantined after reporting body ache and Ebolaike symptoms. Her samples were then rushed to the National Institute of Biology in Maharashtra state's Pune city. But in a major relief for authorities, she has now tested negative for Ebola. The second suspected case which is now under watch is in Gujarat state's Ahmedabad. A 37year-old Congalles businessman developed fever, cough and cold symptoms after traveling through Mumbai, Silvasa, Damun and Vodra. He's now been admitted to a special isolation ward at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in Gujarat. His samples have furthermore been also sent to the NIV Pune. Results are expected within the next 24 to 48 hours. Meanwhile, the Central Health Ministry says it is closely monitoring the evolving situation after the recent outbreaks in parts of Africa. Major Indian metros are also now on alert as we get you this broadcast with airport screenings, contact tracing and even quarantine protocols that have been intensified.

[00:01:23]Now it is important to note here that the DGCA has also issued fresh SOPs to airlines to strengthen surveillance against the outbreak which is vital for prevention. You see all passengers and crew from affected regions will now have to fill mandatory selfcorreation forms.

[00:01:39]These forms in turn will have to be submitted at immigration and health counters after landing here in India.

[00:01:45]Not only this, airlines will also they've also been directed to make mandatory in-flight health announcements. You see, passengers are also being told to immediately report symptoms like fever, weakness, vomiting, rashes or even unexplained bleeding in cases. India's disease surveillance network has also shifted into high alert mode. The ISD uh the IDSP units have been told to maintain heightened vigilance for unexplained fever cases among international travelers. You see, India has also meanwhile stepped up support efforts for Africa. That's right. Emergency pharmaceutical supplies sent by India have now already reached Uganda. This is according to the Africa CDC. The consignment includes diagnostics, therapeutics, infection control material and also case management support for affected communities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa CDC has also thanked the government of India and its people for the assistance. And among this growing scare, vaccine development efforts are now being fasttracks as well. You see researchers at Oxford University working alongside global partners including the likes of serum institute of India that accelerating work on vaccine targeting this strain.

[00:02:59]Scientists say clinical grade doses could be ready within two or three months if trials remain successful. For now India has no confirmed Ebola cases but with the outbreak expanding in parts of Africa you see authorities here are clearly taking no chances like they should. And joining me now is Dr. Enk Aurora. He's the Ames Blaspool president and a global health expert. First and foremost, thank you so much for joining us on this very important story. Dr. Aurora, the first question to you. Um, are airport screenings strong enough to catch these asymptomatic cases before they even enter a crowded city? Sir, >> so there are two things. One is that Ebola during incubation period, right?

[00:03:44]That means when they're asymptomatic, even if you test them, you will not find anything positive. They start excreting the virus only when some symptoms appear. That means fever, some nasal discharge, body aches or uh it may be diarrhea also. So it becomes very difficult. The most important surveillance point is that if somebody is coming from a epidemic area that means Uganda uh Congo or surrounding areas Sudan and so if the government of India has listed 10 or 11 countries that would be the most important that anybody who has been there during the last three or four weeks and lands up in India that person should be very thoroughly examined and look looked for symptoms on one side and if there is any suspicion or if the person has been in the outbreak area then that person has to be kept in quarantine uh for at least till the time total 3 weeks are spent in case any symptoms appear. So it is it is much more complex. It is just not symptoms.

[00:04:58]One has to look for the epidemiology or the exposure status and the period in which you were in the outbreak area.

[00:05:06]That is most important component. I am not aware about these two last cases which you are saying were have been reported today but I am sure their history must be suggested that they must be somewhere around that area where outbreak is occurring and they coming from that area.

[00:05:25]>> Dr. I have one more question for you before we move on. You see, can local and tier 2 hospital labs safely handle and even transport such high-risisk bio samples without cause contamination?

[00:05:35]Because this is the first step, right, doctor? When when the passengers initially come in, you know, samples are taken and then these samples are certain if they're um you know, positive or negative for any disease. So, what's your opinion on that doctor?

[00:05:52]>> So, uh this is a very important question. There is sufficient uh amount of diagnostics available with NCDC and their uh offices uh outreach offices at various parts of the country but they are not available in the routine uh laboratory diagnostic laboratories. So uh when the sample is taken uh at a at a airport or a port of entry it may be uh sea so also that time the sample has to be taken and till the results are available the patient has to be isolated and all precautions to be taken so that particularly the health personal who are handling both the sample as well as the individual suspected individual they are at very high risk and they have to be extremely