New Delhi: The government on Sunday advised Indian citizens, currently residing in or travelling to Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, to strictly follow public health guidance issued by local authorities and maintain heightened precautions, in light of the reported outbreak of Ebola disease in these countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
“In view of the evolving situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries, and in line with WHO’s recommendations, Government of India advises all Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until further notice,” Health Ministry said in an advisory.
India has not reported any case of Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain, the ministry added.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola Virus Disease affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.
Further, the WHO IHR Emergency Committee on May 22 issued temporary recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at Points of Entry to “detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection” while also “discouraging travel to areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection”.
Countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission, according to the statement.
Ebola Disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola Virus.
It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
IANS
Expired bread served on Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi, IRCTC penalises caterer, orders inquiry
New Delhi: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has imposed a penalty on a catering service provider after passengers travelling on the New Delhi-Rani Kamalapati Shatabdi Express were...
Six women die after C-sections in Bhilwara, two in Banswara; Gehlot seeks central probe
Jaipur: Six maternal deaths within five days at Rajasthan's Mahatma Gandhi Government Hospital in Bhilwara, and two in Banswara reportedly following Caesarean-section deliveries, have raised serious concerns over infection control...
FSSAI issues notices to Lotte India, Kubera Foods, FNP over misleading claims
New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to Lotte India Corporation Private Limited, Kubera Foods and Ferns N Petals Private Limited (FNP) over...
Australian study warns of rising youth mental health admissions as heat intensifies
Sydney: Extreme heat significantly increases the risk of hospital admissions for mental health conditions among young people, according to a large Australian study, highlighting a growing public health concern linked...
Seven mothers dead, one injection under scanner; Rajasthan’s Oxytocin tragedy triggers national action
Jaipur: What began as a series of unexplained maternal deaths in Rajasthan has now snowballed into a nationwide drug safety investigation. Seven women, who had recently given birth, lost their...
Govt mandates QR codes for vaccines, antimicrobials, cancer drugs to curb counterfeit medicines
New Delhi: The government has expanded the ambit of QR code-based tracking to include vaccines, antimicrobials, anti-cancer medicines and narcotic and psychotropic drugs to strengthen the quality, safety and integrity...
Jodhpur C-section complications: Use of 25 medicines suspended, AIIMS to probe
Jaipur: Health authorities have suspended the use of 25 medicines and injections, including IV drips administered during Caesarean deliveries at Paota District Hospital in Jodhpur, after eight women developed serious...
Eight women develop complications after C-section in Jodhpur, two critical
Jaipur: Close on the heels of maternal deaths and kidney-related complications reported in Kota and Bikaner following caesarean deliveries, a similar case has surfaced at Paota District Hospital in Jodhpur,...
Hyderabad NEET aspirant dies by suicide a day before retest
Hyderabad: A NEET aspirant died by suicide in Hyderabad on June 20, a day before the NEET (UG) re-examination, said officials on Sunday. According to police, Sheikh Sana (19)...
PM Modi calls for making yoga part of daily life on International Yoga Day
Kolkata: On the occasion of the 12th International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people across the country to adopt yoga as a part of their...
Cough syrups to be sold only through licensed pharmacies: Govt
New Delhi:The government has amended the Drugs Rules, 1945 (Fifth Amendment), removing an exemption that allowed the sale of cough syrups in small villages without compliance with certain retail licensing...
Rajasthan’s medical mystery: Why are new mothers dying in Kota, falling critically ill in Bikaner?
Jaipur: It's been over a month since five women died in Rajasthan's Kota after undergoing surgical challenges during pregnancy. What killed these five women and what triggered recent cases of...
