New Delhi, June 25: The Ebola virus outbreak is currently confined to Central and Eastern Africa. However, France has also entered alert mode. India has heightened its vigilance regarding travelers arriving from affected countries. An Air Facilitation Portal is now active for passengers coming from or transiting through these regions.
Travelers can easily submit the necessary Self-Declaration Form (SDF) online before landing. This replaces the previous paper-based process.
According to sources, this measure was implemented after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The initiative aims to strengthen health monitoring at entry points such as airports and ports while facilitating the movement of travelers.
France has identified and isolated five individuals who may be infected with the Ebola virus. These individuals were traveling with a doctor whose virus test returned positive.
French Health Minister Stéphanie Rist stated on Wednesday (local time) that the doctor had worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before returning to France.
The minister noted that the patient is an experienced doctor who was unaware of their infection. They exhibited no symptoms while on the plane, but experienced a headache, prompting them to issue an alert for medical attention upon arrival in Paris.
Upon landing, the individual was placed in isolation at a hospital. The minister added that they will remain there for 21 days, which is the incubation period for the virus.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control estimates that the risk of infection for residents in Europe is very low.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported 1,118 confirmed cases of Ebola, including 291 deaths. The DRC government has provided updates on the situation following the outbreak.
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