Screening of passengers from African nations begins at Ahmedabad airport; no Ebola cases yet

Gandhinagar: The state govt has initiated intensive screening of passengers arriving at the Ahmedabad airport from African countries like Uganda, Congo and South Sudan in view of the Ebola outbreak in these countries. While there have been no suspected cases in Gujarat yet, state health minister Praful Pansheriya on Monday said that following the Centre’s standard operating procedure, screening has been intensified and isolation facilities have been set up at the airport, and at hospitals in Ahmedabad and Surat. The minister chaired a meeting with officials on Monday to assess Gujarat’s preparedness and planning.

The minister said that intensive screening is being carried out between 6pm and 10am for all passengers arriving from Ebola- affected African countries. “There is not a single case of the Ebola virus in Gujarat or India at present, and there is no need to panic. The health department team has been directed to strictly follow the guidelines and SOP prescribed by the Centre,” he said.

Pansheriya said passengers from other countries are facing no inconvenience, and added that administrative and health officials are fully prepared to meet any situation.

Pansheriya said 32 beds have been designated for suspected cases at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and 10 beds at Surat Civil Hospital, in case of emergency. Additionally, a 60-bed isolation ward and special arrangements have been made at SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad for treating suspected patients. “If any passenger is found to be a suspected case, the state govt is fully prepared to start treatment immediately as per the guidelines of the Union govt,” he added.

Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and is known to have a high mortality rate. The Indian govt has advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. Countries bordering these nations have been assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission, the advisory said.