Srinagar, Jul 31 (KNO): Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday informed the Lok Sabha that no case of Ebola virus was reported in India while thirty passengers in Jammu and Kashmir were screened for it.
The information, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) was furnished by Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda in response to Starred Question No. 184, raised by Benny Behanan and Charanjit Singh Channi.
The MPs sought details of the measures taken by the Government following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the number of passengers screened at Indian airports, preparedness measures and whether any restrictions had been imposed on travellers from affected countries.
In its reply, the Government said it had strengthened surveillance and public health preparedness across the country following the WHO declaration concerning the Bundibugyo Ebola disease outbreak. The measures were undertaken in coordination with the National Centre for Disease Control, ICMR, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and other stakeholders.
The Centre said enhanced screening and surveillance had been instituted at international airports and other points of entry, while Standard Operating Procedures covering surveillance, screening, quarantine, clinical management, laboratory testing, infection prevention and case reporting had been issued to all States and Union Territories. No case of Ebola Disease has been reported in India so far, it said.
According to the State/UT-wise data annexed with the reply, 30 passengers were screened in Jammu and Kashmir, while one passenger was screened in Ladakh.
The Government said it had not imposed a blanket restriction on travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries. However, all international passengers are being screened for a history of travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan during the preceding 21 days.
As per self-declaration forms, including those submitted through the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal, a total of 10,974 passengers arriving from or transiting through the affected countries were screened between May 23 and July 28, 2026.
The Centre further said designated isolation facilities had been identified across States and UTs, laboratory diagnostic capacity had been expanded, mock drills conducted at designated hospitals, and additional doctors and paramedical personnel deployed at major international airports. Enhanced thermal and symptomatic screening has also been undertaken at international airports and seaports—(KNO)