India dispatches medical supplies to Africa CDC amid Ebola outbreak

New Delhi: India on Sunday dispatched the first batch of medical supplies and protective kits to the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the wake of the emerging Ebola public health emergency. 

Highlighting India's support to Africa in this hour, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a post on X, "India dispatched the first tranche of urgent medical supplies and protective kits to @AfricaCDC today. Committed to support Africa in responding to the emerging Ebola public health emergency."

In light of the reported outbreaks of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the World Health Organisation (WHO), under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005, on May 17, determined the situation to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), reports ANI.

Also Read:India reviews preparedness after WHO declares Ebola global health emergency

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also officially declared the ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola virus disease affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).

Further, the WHO IHR Emergency Committee on May 22 issued temporary recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at Points of Entry to "detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection" while also "discouraging travel to areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection".

As per the press release, countries bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, including South Sudan, are assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission.

Ebola disease is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo virus strain of Ebola virus. It is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. At present, no vaccines or specific treatments have been approved to prevent or treat Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus strain.

In light of the evolving situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries, and in accordance with WHO's recommendations, 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. 

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