India Advises Against Travel to Ebola-Hit African Nations

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 declared the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease in the DRC and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).

The WHO IHR Emergency Committee on May 22 issued temporary recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at points of entry. It urged authorities to “detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection” and also advised against travel to affected regions.

Countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, are considered to be at high risk of disease transmission.

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

India has not reported any case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo strain.

In view of the evolving situation in the affected countries and in line with WHO recommendations, the Government of India has advised Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until further notice.

Indian citizens currently residing in or travelling to these countries have been advised to strictly follow public health guidelines issued by local authorities and maintain heightened precautions.