India advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to DRC, Uganda and South Sudan after WHO declared the Ebola outbreak a global health emergency.
Imphal, May 23: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday advised Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan following the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease in parts of Africa.
In an official travel advisory issued on May 23, the ministry said the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17 under the International Health Regulations, 2005.
The advisory stated that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) had also declared the outbreak affecting the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
According to the advisory, WHO’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on May 22 recommended strengthening disease surveillance at international entry points to “detect, assess, report and manage” travellers arriving from affected regions with unexplained fever-related illness.
The Centre said countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, are considered to be at high risk of transmission.
The advisory noted that Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain is a severe viral haemorrhagic disease with a high mortality rate. It also stated that no approved vaccines or specific treatments are currently available for preventing or treating Ebola disease caused by this strain.
The ministry clarified that India has not reported any cases linked to the Bundibugyo strain so far.
“In view of the evolving situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries, and in line with WHO’s recommendations, Government of India advises all its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan,” the advisory stated.
Health authorities are expected to maintain heightened surveillance at points of entry, especially for international travellers arriving from affected regions.
