India Issues Ebola Advisory for Travelers Arriving From High-Risk African Nations

By Amandeep Singh

India has issued a health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected African nations, directing anyone with symptoms or exposure history to report to airport health authorities before immigration clearance.

The advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), names the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan as “high-risk countries”, in line with the World Health Organization’s classification.

Displayed at Delhi airport by the Airport Health Organization (APHO), the notice urges travelers to monitor symptoms including fever, weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat, and unexplained bleeding.

Passengers who have had direct contact with the blood or body fluids of suspected or confirmed Ebola patients have also been asked to immediately inform airport health officials.

According to APHO guidelines, anyone developing symptoms within 21 days of arrival must seek immediate medical attention and disclose their travel history.

On Wednesday, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired a high-level meeting with health secretaries of states and Union Territories to review Ebola preparedness and response measures.

Officials from the Union Health Ministry clarified that India has not reported any Ebola case so far.

However, after the World Health Organization declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the Centre has intensified surveillance and preparedness measures nationwide as a precautionary step.

States and Union Territories have been directed to ensure readiness at every level. Detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering screening, quarantine, case management, referrals, and laboratory testing have already been shared with them.

Officials added that multiple ministries and departments have been sensitized and are coordinating with the Health Ministry to strengthen preventive and surveillance measures across the country.

Ebola Virus

Ebola virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Ebola virus, which spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected people or animals. The disease typically begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and muscle pain, but can progress to vomiting, diarrhoea, internal bleeding, and organ failure in severe cases. While outbreaks have largely remained confined to parts of Africa, the virus is known for its high fatality rate and rapid transmission in the absence of strict containment measures.