Bhubaneswar: In view of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Odisha government has initiated proactive measures to prevent any possible spread into the state.
According to reports, the state health department has directed AIIMS Bhubaneswar to reserve 6-8 beds specifically for quarantining and isolating Ebola suspects arriving through Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. A formal letter has been issued to the AIIMS director requesting necessary arrangements.
The department emphasised that early detection, prompt quarantine, and isolation are critical as the world remains on high alert. “Arrangements should be made to keep the suspects who are identified and referred at Bhubaneswar airport in quarantine at AIIMS so that such public health problems can be dealt with appropriately,” the letter stated.If the number of suspected cases rises, similar facilities will be prepared in various medical colleges and hospitals across the state.
Precautionary measures have already been in place at Bhubaneswar airport for the past three days. Passengers, particularly those arriving on international or high-risk flights, are undergoing thermal screening, and their 21-day travel history is being thoroughly checked. Airport authorities said that any person showing symptoms or meeting suspicion criteria will be handled as per the Union Health Ministry and WHO guidelines.
Notably, an Ugandan woman who arrived in Bhubaneswar via Bengaluru exhibited some symptoms and was placed under quarantine. Her samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for confirmatory testing to rule out Ebola infection.
