India Issues Travel Advisory After WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak Global Health Emergency
Citizens Advised to Avoid Non-Essential Travel to DRC, Uganda and South Sudan Amid Rising Ebola Threat
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also declared the outbreak affecting the DRC and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), highlighting the seriousness of the evolving situation across the region.
New Delhi: The Government of India has advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the ongoing Ebola outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The advisory comes after the WHO, under the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 framework, on May 17 classified the Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain as a global public health emergency.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also declared the outbreak affecting the DRC and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), highlighting the seriousness of the evolving situation across the region.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, countries bordering the affected regions, including South Sudan, are considered to be at high risk of transmission.
Ebola Disease is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and is associated with a high mortality rate. Authorities noted that there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments available for this particular strain.
India has not reported any case of Ebola Disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain so far.
In its latest recommendations issued on May 22, the WHO International Health Regulations Emergency Committee called upon countries to strengthen disease surveillance mechanisms at airports and border entry points to identify travellers arriving from affected regions with unexplained fever or related symptoms.
The WHO has also advised against travel to areas where active Bundibugyo virus transmission has been documented.
“In view of the evolving situation and in line with WHO recommendations, Indian citizens are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until further notice,” the Government said in its advisory.
Indian nationals currently residing in or travelling to these countries have been urged to strictly follow local public health guidelines and maintain heightened health precautions.
The advisory is available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website.
