Ebola in India: Officials hold high-level meeting for Ebola preparedeness

By: Shraddha Rupavate | | Published: October 17, 2014 11:13 am

The Ebola epidemic that has killed over 4,400 people in West African countries is slowly spreading to other countries outside West Africa. After the first Ebola case in the U.S., countries all over the world have tightened screening procedures at the airport and are working out plans to tackle an emergency. India Thursday held a emergency, high-level meeting to discuss the nation’s preparedness plan to tackle the ’emerging’ global crisis on Ebola. The meeting was chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and several chief and health secretaries from all the states which have international airports and sea links attended the meeting. Secretaries of health, home, shipping, civil aviation and external affairs ministries were also present. Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

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The meeting focused on stock of the measures being implemented for strengthening the preparedness, surveillance and response system in the states. According to one of the officials, protocols and preparedness measures, including control practices for infection that to be followed by the states and union territories, have already been communicated to the states. During the meeting, the state governments were informed that these protocols have been put in place and all in-bound passengers are being screened as per the protocol.

The states have been informed that in accordance with the protocol, they have to identify hospitals and isolation wards for Ebola treatment. Central teams have been asked to inspect the adequacy of preparations in these hospitals. According to senior officials, till Wednesday, 22,150 passengers have been screened for Ebola of which seven have been identified to be at medium risk and 56 at high risk while the others were categorized as low risk. (Read: 5 reasons the ebola virus should never come to India)

Passengers at low risk are being advised to follow precautionary measured for Ebola while medium and high risk passengers temporarily kept under observation for a period of 30 days. Their blood samples are being sent for testing. A disease tracking system has also been put in place under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

The chief secretaries were requested to ensure that proper liaison and coordination is maintained by the state health authorities with the airports and sea ports. During the meeting, some state governments said they need more personal protective equipment (PPE) gear. Meanwhile, the government is organizing a training programme from Oct 19-21 at Delhi. This training will include demonstrations and mock drills. (Read: Has the Ebola virus really come to India?) Also Read - Ebola Virus Disease: Some unknown facts associated with it