Ebola Outbreak Declared Global Health Emergency
In light of the recent outbreaks of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, the World Health Organisation has classified the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern as of May 17, under the International Health Regulations, 2005. In a recent press release from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it has been confirmed that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has officially designated the current outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola virus disease, which is impacting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. On May 22, the WHO IHR Emergency Committee issued temporary recommendations focused on improving disease surveillance at Points of Entry.
These measures aim to identify, evaluate, communicate, and handle travellers presenting with unexplained febrile illness from regions where the Bundibugyo virus has been confirmed, while also advising against travel to those areas. According to the release, countries neighbouring the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are assessed to be at considerable risk of disease spread. Ebola disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. It is a serious condition marked by a high rate of fatality. At present, there are no approved vaccines or specific treatments available for preventing or treating Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.
India has not reported any instances of the Ebola disease linked to the Bundibugyo virus strain. Due to the evolving situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries, and in accordance with the advice from the World Health Organization, 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. Indian citizens currently residing in or travelling to these countries are urged to follow public health guidance from local authorities and to be more vigilant, as stated in the press release.
