New Delhi: The Government of India on Saturday advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan following the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in parts of Africa.
The advisory comes after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005, on May 17.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has also declared the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease in Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
In its latest recommendations issued on May 22, the WHO’s IHR Emergency Committee called for enhanced surveillance at international entry points to identify travellers with unexplained fever arriving from affected areas. It also advised against travel to regions where the Bundibugyo virus strain has been detected.
According to the Union government, countries bordering Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are at high risk of transmission.
Ebola Virus Disease is a highly dangerous viral infection caused in this outbreak by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. Authorities said the disease has a high mortality rate and that no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists for this strain.
The Centre clarified that India has not reported any case linked to the Bundibugyo strain so far.
Indian citizens currently residing in or travelling to the affected countries have been advised to strictly follow local public health guidelines and exercise heightened caution.
