Ebola Death Toll Crosses 100, Centre Directs States to Strengthen Preparedness

Amid growing global concern over the worsening Ebola outbreak in Africa, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting with health secretaries of all states and Union territories to assess India’s preparedness and response strategy. The meeting followed the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). According to WHO data, the outbreak has already resulted in 528 suspected cases and 132 deaths, with the Bundibugyo strain identified as the cause behind the infections.

During the meeting, the Centre directed states and UTs to strengthen surveillance systems, quarantine protocols, hospital preparedness and screening mechanisms at all levels. The Union Health Ministry clarified that no Ebola case has been detected in India so far, but precautionary measures have been intensified considering the rising global threat, reports TOI.

Detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) covering airport screening, laboratory testing, case management and referral systems have already been circulated. Officials also highlighted India’s earlier experience in handling Ebola preparedness during the 2014 outbreak and urged citizens not to panic while continuing to follow official health advisories and updates.