Hyderabad: Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said Telangana has strengthened Ebola surveillance and intensified screening measures at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport as a precaution against the viral disease.
During a review meeting at the Secretariat, the minister directed officials to maintain strict monitoring of passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries. He said authorities will track such travellers for 21 days after arrival. In addition, health teams have expanded screening and surveillance procedures at the airport.
The minister said two suspected Ebola cases tested negative. However, officials conducted additional tests to confirm the results. He added that the state remains alert and prepared to respond to any health emergency.
Ebola surveillance measures include monitoring and legal action
Raja Narasimha said Gandhi Hospital has prepared isolation facilities to manage any potential cases. Meanwhile, officials from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology informed the meeting that Ebola testing kits had arrived and testing activities had commenced.
The minister warned that authorities would register cases against passengers who provide false addresses during screening. Furthermore, he directed officials to invoke provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act whenever necessary.
To improve communication with international travellers, officials will deploy French-, Arabic- and Swahili-speaking staff at the airport. The minister also stressed the importance of coordination among the Health Department, Police Department and Airport authorities for effective contact tracing and rapid response.
The Ebola surveillance programme follows guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research. Raja Narasimha urged people not to panic and advised them to rely only on official information released by health authorities.
