The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on Sunday. Indian health experts have reassured the public that there is no need for panic, as Ebola does not spread in the same manner as COVID-19. They emphasized the importance of vigilance and early detection.
Health ministry officials noted that India has never reported an Ebola case, apart from one instance involving an international traveler in 2014. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is actively monitoring the situation.
Former director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr. Randeep Guleria, explained that Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, such as blood, vomit, and secretions, distinguishing it from COVID-19, which spreads through airborne droplets.
Experts have indicated that India possesses the laboratory capacity to swiftly detect Ebola using specialized RT-PCR testing at designated centers. However, they stressed that early clinical recognition and prompt reporting are critical to managing any potential cases.
