Delhi Airport issues public health advisory amid Ebola concerns
New Delhi, May 21
Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday issued a public health advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected countries, asking travellers showing symptoms of the disease to immediately report to health authorities at the airport.
In a post on social media platform X, Delhi Airport shared a health information advisory issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The advisory applies to passengers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, which were identified as high-risk countries based on World Health Organization (WHO) updates.
According to the advisory, travellers experiencing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, weakness or fatigue, diarrhoea, headache, unexplained bleeding, muscle pain or sore throat have been asked to immediately report to the Airport Health Officer or health desk before immigration clearance.
Passengers who had direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a suspected or confirmed Ebola patient have also been instructed to inform health authorities at the airport.
The advisory further stated that travellers developing symptoms within 21 days of arrival should seek immediate medical care and disclose their recent travel history to healthcare authorities.
Delhi Airport urged passengers to cooperate with health screening and public health measures in the interest of passenger safety and compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR).
The advisory comes amid growing global vigilance over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa.
In addition, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reported 131 suspected deaths and 513 suspected Ebola cases in the latest outbreak. DRC Health Minister Roger Kamba on Tuesday said that the deaths were recorded in affected regions, though not all fatalities were necessarily linked to Ebola.
Notably, Jordan on Wednesday announced a temporary ban on the entry of travellers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda following Ebola-related concerns in the two countries.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting approach compared to Jordan's ban. India's advisory-based system seems more practical - monitor symptoms and report, rather than outright banning travellers. Probably strikes a better balance between safety and international travel needs.
As someone who travels frequently through Delhi Airport, I appreciate these precautions. But I hope the health desks are adequately staffed and trained. Last thing we need is long queues or undertrained personnel. Have seen similar advisories in past but implementation can be patchy.
Dil ki baat kahi hai. Good that India is proactive about this. International travel is unavoidable but these measures make me feel safer. Wish they also used some radio ads or SMS alerts for passengers who might miss the X post. 🤔
I'm a bit skeptical. Remember how poorly some airports handled Covid screening? Hope this time they have proper isolation rooms and medical support. One suggestion - make the advisory available in Hindi and other regional languages too for better awareness among all passengers.
Makes sense globally. I flew through Delhi last year and saw similar measures for monkeypox. Good to see consistency. Just wish the advisory mentioned if there are any specific quarantine protocols for suspected cases. Transparency helps build trust.
Proper step. But honestly, I worry more about
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