New Delhi, May 24: The Indian government has issued a warning to its citizens regarding travel to Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. Those currently residing in or planning to visit these regions are urged to strictly adhere to the guidance provided by local health authorities and exercise extreme caution.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this situation as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC).
In an advisory, the Health Ministry stated, “In light of the evolving situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries, and following WHO recommendations, the Government of India advises all Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan until further notice.”
The ministry confirmed that no cases of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain have been reported in India.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has officially declared the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease as a “Public Health Emergency for Continental Safety.”
Additionally, the WHO’s IHR Emergency Committee issued temporary recommendations on May 22 to enhance disease surveillance at entry points. This aims to identify, assess, report, and manage travelers with unexplained fever arriving from areas where the Bundibugyo virus is present, while also discouraging travel to these regions.
Countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are considered at high risk for the spread of the disease.
Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the infection of the Ebola virus’s Bundibugyo strain. It is a severe disease with a high mortality rate. Currently, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved for the prevention or treatment of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain.
Leave a Comment