New Delhi: Government of India issued an Ebola travel advisory asking citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency.
The advisory followed the WHO decision on May 17 to classify the Ebola outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations, 2005.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security because of the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
According to the Union government, countries bordering the affected regions, including South Sudan, remain at high risk of disease transmission. Therefore, authorities advised Indian citizens residing in or travelling to these countries to follow local public health guidelines strictly.
Officials said Ebola Disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain. The disease carries a high mortality rate and currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment for this strain.
Ebola travel advisory follows WHO recommendations
The WHO Emergency Committee on May 22 recommended stronger disease surveillance at international entry points. It also advised countries to detect and manage travellers arriving from affected regions with unexplained fever symptoms.
Further, the WHO recommended discouraging travel to areas where the Bundibugyo virus strain had been detected.
The Union government clarified that India had not reported any Ebola case linked to the Bundibugyo strain so far. However, officials said authorities were closely monitoring the evolving public health situation in affected African countries.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued the Ebola travel advisory in line with WHO recommendations and urged citizens to remain cautious until further notice.
Officials also asked travellers to maintain heightened precautions and cooperate with health screening procedures wherever required.
