WHO declares Ebola outbreak global health emergency
New Delhi: The World Health Organization announced on Sunday Ebola outbreak A Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in Congo and Uganda, Indian health experts said there is no cause for panic as Ebola does not spread like Covid-19, although caution and early detection are crucial.Health ministry officials said no Ebola cases have been reported in India except for an international traveler who tested positive in 2014. The National Centers for Disease Control is closely monitoring the situationDr Randeep Guleria, former director of AIIMS, said Ebola is spread through direct contact with infected body fluids, blood, vomit, secretions or contaminated material, unlike Covid-19 which spreads through regular droplet transmission.“There’s no need to panic,” Guleria said, adding that Ebola requires close physical contact and is therefore unlikely to start a pandemic like Covid-19.Recalling India’s preparedness during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Guleria said authorities conducted workshops and screening exercises across the country. He also mentioned an Indian traveler returning from Sierra Leone who was quarantined in Delhi after recovering from Ebola as body fluid samples tested positive for viral particles. The person was isolated for about three months as a precautionary measure, although no infection occurred.Guleria said Ebola outbreaks are often linked to infected fruit bats or wild animals, and can also spread during the handling of infected carcasses. He stressed the importance of screening travelers from affected areas and monitoring them during the incubation period of up to 21 days.Experts said that designated centers under the Indian Council of Medical Research and NCDC have laboratory capacity to rapidly detect Ebola through specialized RT-PCR tests, though early clinical suspicion and prompt reporting are essential.“The overall risk remains low, but in today’s interconnected world, an infectious outbreak is literally a flight away,” said Dr. Neeraj Nishal, professor of medicine at AIIMS, emphasizing the importance of airport surveillance, travel screening and emergency response systems.He said Ebola patients usually become contagious soon after the onset of symptoms, especially when there is fever, vomiting, diarrhea or bleeding. Healthcare workers and caregivers are at greater risk without adequate protective equipment and infection-control practices.Nishal added that early Ebola symptoms can resemble those of other fevers or viral illnesses, making travel and exposure history important for diagnosis. He said contact tracing remains one of the most effective ways to stop transmission and noted that lessons from Covid-19 — including surveillance, rapid testing and hospital preparedness — have strengthened India’s outbreak response capabilities.“Public cooperation, honest reporting of travel history and timely medical advice are important to prevent the outbreak from escalating,” he said.
