On Wednesday, authorities verified that a 28-year-old Ugandan lady who was placed under quarantine in Bengaluru due to a possible Ebola illness has tested negative. A positive outcome would have been the first Ebola case in South Asia since 2014; in turn, the outcome was a major relief. In the middle of increasing international concerns over the deadly illness, health officials isolated and closely monitored the woman after she had moderate body pain after arriving in India.
Health authorities confirm negative result
The Ugandan national, who travelled from the East African nation to Bengaluru via Ahmedabad, exhibited moderate symptoms but was generally healthy, according to officials. Fears of an expected outbreak in India disappeared when authorities verified that the Ebola test turned out negative.
Also Read | Uganda returnee quarantined in Bengaluru after suspected Ebola symptoms emerge
According to domestic media accounts, the traveller was put under surveillance as soon as they displayed symptoms. As a precaution, health officials also gathered samples for extra testing.
The announcement was made the day after Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said that India had not yet recorded any Ebola cases. The government has tightened screening and monitoring procedures at airports and other points of entry throughout the nation, he added.
As per World Health Organisation (WHO) norms, India has also released advice regarding screening, quarantine processes, and preventive practices. Due to the ongoing Ebola situation in several parts of Africa, the government has advised individuals to keep away from taking unnecessary trips to South Sudan, Uganda, and the Congo.
Also Read | Supreme Court upholds ECI’s SIR exercise, calls it constitutionally valid
Health Ministry keeping a close eye on the situation
Vijayawada's Government General Hospital Superintendent A Venkateswara Rao said, "At present, we have started the Ebola ward with six to eight beds with all equipment... For the last two days, we have been organising awareness programmes for our staff nurses and sanitary workers... There is no recorded evidence of the Ebola infection in us. In future, depending upon the severity of the problem, we'll modify our arrangements... We are ready with oxygen, ventilators and everything. We are ready to tackle Ebola infection."
The Ebola outbreak has been declared a public health emergency of worldwide concern by the World Health Organisation. Out of almost 900 suspected cases worldwide connected to the Bundibugyo variant of the virus, for which there is presently no approved vaccination or treatment, WHO has verified 101 cases.
