Meanwhile, four Indian doctors, who claim they are being forced to treat Ebola patients against their will in Nigeria, want to return home and appealed to the Indian government to facilitate this. The Abuja-based Indian private hospital Primus where they are working, however, appealed to them not to abandon their duties.
The Indian High Commission in Nigeria is in touch with the four doctors and the hospital authorities so that both sides could arrive at an amicable solution. Here’s a look at how the nation, in general, and the national Capital Delhi, in particular, are gearing up to fight the virus.
What’s the state doing?
Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan told Parliament on Wednesday that advisories have been issued to the State Disease Surveillance Units to be on alert for early detection and management of travel related Ebola virus cases reported from the community. While the risk of Ebola virus cases in India is low, measures are in place to deal with any case of the virus, he said.
In a statement, he said in view of the reports of outbreak of the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria in West Africa, it is recommended that non-essential travel to these countries be deferred till such time that the situation is brought under control.
How well is Delhi prepared?
Union health minister Harsh Vardhan reassured Parliament that though there is no vaccine or curative therapy for this disease, outbreaks can be contained through early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing and monitoring, and following rigorous procedures for infection control.
Laboratory capacity was also strengthened at the National Institute of Virology, Pune and National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, to diagnose this disease.
According to an official release issued here, a 28-year-old traveller from Nigeria, who showed symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, was admitted to Dr R M L Hospital for observation on the morning of 10 August. He has been tested negative for EVD in tests done at National institute of Virology, Pune and the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi, the release stated. ‘There is no specific provision for dealing with Ebola disease in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Government has assigned it to RML hospital. But if there is an emergency, Randeep Guleria, Head of Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders at AIIMS will be dealing with it,’ said Amit Gupta, spokeperson, AIIMS.
What is the govt doing?
The official release also said that the Cabinet Secretary held a meeting with Secretaries and senior officers of the Ministries of Health, Civil Aviation, MHA, MEA and I&B to review the government’s preparedness on EVD. He has directed for creation of a portal for systematic, easy and effective information sharing between the different Ministries on the passengers travelling to India from the different EVD affected countries, which will enable more effective surveillance and tracking of the suspected cases, the release said.
The 24x7 Ebola emergency helpline started by the Union Health Ministry to deal with queries and track any persons affected by the virus has received more than 450 calls till date. The three helplines, which became operational on 9 August at Nirman Bhavan, are being manned by a team of eight doctors from the various government hospitals in the city. According to the doctors, the helplines were flooded with calls when the case of a person arriving from Nigeria with Ebola-like symptoms was reported in the media.
What measures are the airlines taking?
The Health Ministry will train the immigration officers at the identified airports on how to deal with the passengers travelling from affected countries. It was also decided in the meeting to sensitise the cabin crew of different airlines towards the nature of the EVD to enable them to understand the issue and deal more effectively with passengers. Chief Secretaries of all the state governments have been requested to track and monitor passengers from the affected countries.
With airports across the country already on alert to screen passengers coming in from Ebola-hit countries, government on Tuesday directed all airlines to follow precautionary guidelines to help isolate travellers who may have been affected by the virus. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued directives to all airlines operating on international routes and asked them to take a series of precautionary measures with immediate effect to prevent the entry and spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in India. The airlines have been asked to keep first aid and universal precaution kits, including masks, sanitizers and disposal gloves and bags.
They would also have to make in-flight announcements for self-reporting by travellers who have any signs or symptoms of EVD, ask passengers to fill up special health forms for submitting information regarding visit to any affected country in the last 21 days, among other things.
The preventive measures have been taken by Delhi airport authorities as per the directives of health ministry. ‘The health cards have been prepared by Airport Health Organisation, to be distributed passengers who have tested negative for EVD.
The Etihad, Kenyan and Ethopian airlines have also been asked to keep health cards on boards for the passengers who have either started their journey from any of the affected countries or have travelled to these countries in the past 21 day’, said the spokesperson of Delhi International Airport (Pvt) Limited.
The Indian High Commission in Nigeria is in touch with the four doctors and the hospital authorities so that both sides could arrive at an amicable solution. Here’s a look at how the nation, in general, and the national Capital Delhi, in particular, are gearing up to fight the virus.
What’s the state doing?
Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan told Parliament on Wednesday that advisories have been issued to the State Disease Surveillance Units to be on alert for early detection and management of travel related Ebola virus cases reported from the community. While the risk of Ebola virus cases in India is low, measures are in place to deal with any case of the virus, he said.
In a statement, he said in view of the reports of outbreak of the disease in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria in West Africa, it is recommended that non-essential travel to these countries be deferred till such time that the situation is brought under control.
How well is Delhi prepared?
Union health minister Harsh Vardhan reassured Parliament that though there is no vaccine or curative therapy for this disease, outbreaks can be contained through early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing and monitoring, and following rigorous procedures for infection control.
Laboratory capacity was also strengthened at the National Institute of Virology, Pune and National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi, to diagnose this disease.
According to an official release issued here, a 28-year-old traveller from Nigeria, who showed symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, was admitted to Dr R M L Hospital for observation on the morning of 10 August. He has been tested negative for EVD in tests done at National institute of Virology, Pune and the National Centre for Disease Control in Delhi, the release stated. ‘There is no specific provision for dealing with Ebola disease in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Government has assigned it to RML hospital. But if there is an emergency, Randeep Guleria, Head of Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders at AIIMS will be dealing with it,’ said Amit Gupta, spokeperson, AIIMS.
What is the govt doing?
The official release also said that the Cabinet Secretary held a meeting with Secretaries and senior officers of the Ministries of Health, Civil Aviation, MHA, MEA and I&B to review the government’s preparedness on EVD. He has directed for creation of a portal for systematic, easy and effective information sharing between the different Ministries on the passengers travelling to India from the different EVD affected countries, which will enable more effective surveillance and tracking of the suspected cases, the release said.
The 24x7 Ebola emergency helpline started by the Union Health Ministry to deal with queries and track any persons affected by the virus has received more than 450 calls till date. The three helplines, which became operational on 9 August at Nirman Bhavan, are being manned by a team of eight doctors from the various government hospitals in the city. According to the doctors, the helplines were flooded with calls when the case of a person arriving from Nigeria with Ebola-like symptoms was reported in the media.
What measures are the airlines taking?
The Health Ministry will train the immigration officers at the identified airports on how to deal with the passengers travelling from affected countries. It was also decided in the meeting to sensitise the cabin crew of different airlines towards the nature of the EVD to enable them to understand the issue and deal more effectively with passengers. Chief Secretaries of all the state governments have been requested to track and monitor passengers from the affected countries.
With airports across the country already on alert to screen passengers coming in from Ebola-hit countries, government on Tuesday directed all airlines to follow precautionary guidelines to help isolate travellers who may have been affected by the virus. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued directives to all airlines operating on international routes and asked them to take a series of precautionary measures with immediate effect to prevent the entry and spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in India. The airlines have been asked to keep first aid and universal precaution kits, including masks, sanitizers and disposal gloves and bags.
They would also have to make in-flight announcements for self-reporting by travellers who have any signs or symptoms of EVD, ask passengers to fill up special health forms for submitting information regarding visit to any affected country in the last 21 days, among other things.
The preventive measures have been taken by Delhi airport authorities as per the directives of health ministry. ‘The health cards have been prepared by Airport Health Organisation, to be distributed passengers who have tested negative for EVD.
The Etihad, Kenyan and Ethopian airlines have also been asked to keep health cards on boards for the passengers who have either started their journey from any of the affected countries or have travelled to these countries in the past 21 day’, said the spokesperson of Delhi International Airport (Pvt) Limited.