Ebola High Alert in Karnataka: 21-Days Quarantine Mandatory
It has been made legally mandatory for every passenger arriving from Ebola-affected countries to undergo a strict 21-days quarantine.
Ebola High Alert: Amid rising global concerns over the spread of Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency. Although no cases of Ebola have been detected in India so far, precautionary guidelines have been issued as a preventive measure. Ebola High Alert in Karnataka: 21-Days Quarantine Mandatory.
Strict surveillance has been initiated across the international entry points of the state. Following the global high alert, the State Health Department has taken several crucial decisions to prevent and control Ebola. The department has appealed to the public not to panic about the Ebola virus but urged everyone to strictly follow the safety protocols.
Key Measures Taken by the State Health Department:
Passengers arriving at Bengaluru and Mangaluru international airports are undergoing strict thermal screening and intensive surveillance. It has been made legally mandatory for every passenger arriving from Ebola-affected countries to undergo a strict 21-days quarantine.
Special isolation wards have been reserved to provide separate treatment for suspected or symptomatic patients at:
Bengaluru: Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD)
Mangaluru: Wenlock Hospital and Srinivas Port Hospital
Arrangements have also been made to collect blood samples from suspected cases and route them through the National Institute of Virology (NIV) unit in Bengaluru to the main National Institute of Virology in Pune for definitive testing.
The Health Department clarified that Ebola is not an airborne infection. Instead, it spreads only through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. The primary symptoms of the disease include high fever, severe headache, and skin rashes or blisters.
Citizens are advised not to pay heed to false rumors circulating on social media and to rely strictly on official announcements. The department has urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious instead of giving in to fear.
