New Delhi: The Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa has once again raised global public health concerns, with Indian authorities keeping a close watch on the evolving situation and health experts stressing the importance of surveillance to prevent its possible importation into the country.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) after more than 300 suspected cases and nearly 90 deaths were reported.
India’s Health Ministry officials said the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is closely monitoring developments, while a review meeting was also held to assess India’s preparedness, screening mechanisms and response strategy in case of any suspected case being detected in the country.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal illness caused by the Ebola virus, which spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids or tissues of infected people or animals.
The symptoms of Ebola disease can be sudden and include fever, fatigue, malaise, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. These are followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash, and symptoms of impaired kidney and liver functions.
While there is currently no Ebola outbreak in India, experts said international travel and global connectivity mean that countries must remain vigilant against infectious disease threats.
India reported its only known Ebola case in November 2014, when a 26-year-old man who had travelled from Liberia tested positive for the virus in Delhi. Health authorities had then isolated the patient and carried out extensive contact tracing, preventing any further spread, according to government sources.
The WHO had earlier declared Ebola outbreaks as a PHEIC in 2014 during the massive West Africa outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people, and in 2019 during the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The latest declaration marks the third time Ebola has triggered the WHO’s highest level of global health alert.
The disease has previously caused major outbreaks in several African nations, with fatality rates ranging from 25 to 90 per cent, depending on the strain and healthcare response.
Dr Sanjay Rai, Professor at the Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS Delhi, said India’s risk at present remains low. “India has robust airport screening systems and disease surveillance mechanisms compared to earlier years. However, any outbreak anywhere in the world is a reminder that infectious diseases do not respect borders. Travellers coming from affected countries need close monitoring,” Rai said.
He said Ebola does not spread through the air like COVID-19, which limits the chances of large-scale community transmission.
“The virus mainly spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or unsafe burial practices. Healthcare workers and family caregivers are at a higher risk if proper protective measures are not followed,” he explained.
Dr Rai noted that India’s large population and crowded healthcare settings could pose challenges if an imported case goes undetected. “That is why awareness among doctors, airport authorities and surveillance teams is extremely important. Even a single imported infection must be managed quickly to avoid secondary transmission,” he said.
