Ebola: Kerala to monitor travellers from affected nations for 21 days

The Kerala Health department will place travellers arriving from countries flagged by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Union Health Ministry for reporting Ebola cases under mandatory health surveillance for up to 21 days after their arrival in Kerala.

The State Rapid Response Team, which met here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, said the measure was being adopted as an additional precaution. Officials clarified that no Ebola cases have been reported in India so far and that there was no cause for panic.

Travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries — the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan — have been directed to strictly follow the special health guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry.

Passengers from these countries have been advised to immediately report to health authorities at airports if they experience symptoms associated with Ebola, including fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat or bleeding.

Those who may have had direct contact with confirmed or suspected Ebola patients have also been instructed to inform health officials.

The State has strengthened passenger screening at international airports and seaports in Kerala. Isolation wards and intensive care facilities have also been readied for those requiring treatment or observation.

The Health Minister directed department officials to ensure timely training of healthcare personnel in infection prevention and control, use of PPE kits, treatment protocols and critical care management.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajan Khobragade, National Health Mission State Director Rahul Krishna Sharma, Ayush Mission Director Sajith Kumar, Director of Health Services K.J. Reena and Director of Medical Education Dr. Vishwanathan.

Ebola is a severe viral haemorrhagic fever that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials. It is not considered an airborne disease in normal community settings.

The incubation period — the time between exposure and onset of symptoms — ranges from two to 21 days, which is why health authorities typically monitor travellers for 21 days.

Kerala has historically adopted aggressive surveillance measures for infectious diseases because of its high volume of international travel, especially from Gulf and African countries. The State also has a strong track record in handling contagious disease outbreaks such as Nipah and COVID-19 through stringent surveillance, monitoring, early detection and diagnosis.

Health officials said the public health alert was intended not to create alarm but to raise awareness. With four international airports and heavy passenger movement, they noted, it can take less than 24 hours for a viral outbreak in another part of the world to reach the State.