Ebola scare in Bengaluru: Ugandan woman with 'signs' isolated at airport

BENGALURU: A 28-year-old Ugandan woman, who arrived at Kempegowda International Airport on May 23, has been isolated at the Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Indiranagar as a precautionary measure after her samples were collected for Ebola testing amid a global alert over the viral disease.

According to Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, principal secretary of the health department, the woman did not show obvious symptoms such as fever. “We are still not sure (of her symptoms). The Airport Health Organisation noticed signs such as fatigue and decided to collect samples,” he said. The samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing.



Health department officials said the woman had initially checked into a hotel after arriving from Uganda, but was later shifted to the state-run hospital after she developed mild symptoms such as body ache. Authorities said her condition is currently stable and she is being closely monitored.

Officials added that, as per protocol, a repeat test will also be conducted even as they await the first set of reports from NIV Pune.

The case comes amid heightened global concern over Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa. The World Health Organization had on May 17 declared the ongoing Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC).

Following the alert, the Karnataka health department on Friday issued an advisory asking people returning from Ebola-affected countries to undergo self-monitoring and health observation for 21 days after arrival.

The department said travellers developing symptoms should immediately report to the nearest health facility, while Rapid Response Teams would carry out surveillance and contact-tracing measures if required.



As part of preparedness measures, Bengaluru’s Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases has been identified as the isolation centre, while the Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Indiranagar has been designated as the quarantine and treatment facility.

In Mangaluru, Srinivas Port Hospital under the New Mangalore Port Authority has been identified as the quarantine centre, while Wenlock District Hospital will function as the designated isolation and treatment facility.
(With PTI inputs)