Airlines bringing passengers to India from Ebola-affected regions in Africa, specifically the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, are now required to ensure these travelers complete self-declaration forms prior to arrival. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has implemented this protocol in response to the potential transmission of Ebola.
Passengers arriving from these hotspots will undergo thermal screening. In a measure reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines must relocate symptomatic passengers to the rear of the aircraft, keeping three rows in front and behind the affected individual vacant as much as possible.
Carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, Akasa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, are obliged to notify air traffic control if suspected or symptomatic cases are on board, allowing the aircraft to be directed to a designated area upon arrival. Health teams will then take charge of these passengers.
In-flight protocols have been established requiring airlines to designate a specific cabin crew member to attend solely to the symptomatic passenger. A separate washroom must be allocated for the use of the suspected case, and the passenger should be provided with a mask and personal protective equipment. Complete disinfection of the aircraft is also mandated.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister J P Nadda has reviewed the country’s preparedness measures and instructed officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Centre for Disease Control to maintain readiness for tracking, testing, and monitoring.
