No Ebola case in India; 10,974 travellers screened since May 23: JP Nadda in Lok Sabha

As many as 10974 international passengers arriving in India from Ebolaaffected countries have been screened for the disease since May 23 the government informed the Lok Sabha on Friday amid heightened surveillance after the WHO declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern PHEICUnion Health Minister J P Nadda said passengers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC Uganda and South Sudan were screened between May 23 and July 28 based on selfdeclaration forms submitted by international travellers and through the Air Suvidha 20 portalNo case of Ebola disease has been reported in the country so far Nadda saidHe said the government has not imposed any blanket restriction on entry of travellers from Ebolaaffected countries he said adding that all international passengers arriving at Points of Entry are being screened for a history of travel to the affected countries during the preceding 21 daysThe measures were strengthened following the declaration of the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak as a PHEIC by World Health Organization WHO and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security PHECS by the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention Africa CDC he addedPreparedness and surveillance measures have been undertaken in coordination with the National Centre for Disease Control NCDC Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR Directorate General of Health Services DGHS Ministry of Civil Aviation Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of External Affairs Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways Department of Biotechnology and other stakeholdersAccording to the Union health minister enhanced screening and surveillance have been instituted at international airports and other Points of Entry while advisories and standard operating procedures SOPs covering surveillance screening quarantine clinical management laboratory testing infection prevention and control and case reporting have been issued to states and Union territories UTsAs part of preparedness measures the government has issued detailed SOPs and operational guidelines covering surveillance and reporting infection prevention and control technical specifications for personal protective equipment PPE laboratory diagnosis sample transportation quarantine isolation and discharge of casesDesignated isolation facilities have been identified and their operational readiness ensured across states and UTs Nadda saidLaboratory diagnostic capacity has also been expanded through the ICMRNational Institute of Virology NIV Pune and additional designated Biosafety Level3 laboratories across the countryThe government has also ensured the availability of PPE and other logistics for healthcare workers including personnel deployed at Points of EntryMock drills have been conducted in designated hospitals across states and UTs to assess preparedness while capacitybuilding programmes have been undertaken for Airport Health Organisation officials Bureau of Immigration personnel state surveillance units and staff at designated isolation hospitals the Union health minister saidAdditional doctors and paramedical personnel have been deployed at major international airports he said adding that thermal and symptomatic screening of arriving international passengers has also been strengthened at airports and seaportsThe government has stepped up risk communication through airport displays social media awareness videos and inflight announcements besides the 24x7 national helpline 1075The NCDC Public Health Emergency Operations Centre PHEOC has been activated while regular coordination meetings are being held with concerned ministries states and UTs Airport Health Organisation offices and designated isolation hospitals to review preparedness Nadda saidThe measures are aimed at ensuring early detection rapid isolation and coordinated response in case of any suspected Ebola infection in the country he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever