The Union Health Ministry has directed all States and Union Territories to strengthen surveillance, hospital preparedness and screening of international travellers after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

In a letter sent to Chief Secretaries and UT administrators on May 21, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava noted that countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, have been assessed as being at high risk of disease transmission.

“While the current assessment indicates that the risk to countries outside the affected African region remains low, the substantial quantum of international trade and travel underscores the importance of maintaining adequate preparedness and response capacities at all levels of the health system,” the letter stated.

The ministry asked States to intensify surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) to detect unusual clusters of cases showing symptoms consistent with Ebola, particularly among individuals with recent travel history to affected regions.

The advisory listed symptoms such as fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, rash and red eyes.

[Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/May/22/india-on-ebola-watch-health-ministry-issues-nationwide-advisory?utm_source=chatgpt.com