Delhi airport issues Ebola advisory for passengers from high-risk African countries

Indira Gandhi International Airport on May 21 issued a public health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected countries, amid growing global concern over the latest outbreak in parts of Africa.

The advisory applies to travellers coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, which have been identified as high-risk countries based on updates from the World Health Organization and Indian health authorities.

According to the advisory issued through the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Union Health Ministry, passengers showing symptoms associated with Ebola have been instructed to immediately report to airport health officials before immigration clearance.

The symptoms listed in the advisory include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, fatigue, weakness and unexplained bleeding. Travellers who had direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient have also been asked to inform authorities at the airport.

Delhi airport authorities said enhanced screening protocols have been activated for passengers arriving from affected regions. These include non-contact thermal screening, self-declaration health forms and dedicated screening corridors at international arrival terminals.

Passengers developing symptoms within 21 days of arrival have been advised to seek immediate medical care and disclose their recent travel history to healthcare providers.

The latest advisory comes after the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in parts of Central Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The outbreak has been linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, a rarer Ebola strain for which no approved vaccine currently exists.

Indian authorities have repeatedly stated that no Ebola case has been detected in the country so far. However, the Centre has intensified surveillance and preparedness measures “as an abundant precaution” following the WHO alert.

Earlier this week, senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) reviewed India’s Ebola preparedness measures.

The Centre has also reviewed standard operating procedures related to screening, quarantine, surveillance and case management. The National Institute of Virology has been designated for Ebola testing, while isolation and quarantine facilities have reportedly been identified at major airports and ports across the country.

The latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has triggered global concern because of its rapid spread and regional transmission risk. According to recent reports, hundreds of suspected cases and over 100 deaths have been recorded in affected areas. Uganda has also reported confirmed infections linked to cross-border travel from Congo.

Several countries have already tightened travel screening measures in response to the outbreak. Jordan recently announced a temporary entry ban on travellers from Congo and Uganda over Ebola concerns.

Delhi airport authorities urged passengers to cooperate with all public health measures and screening procedures in the interest of passenger safety and compliance with international health regulations.