Cabinet Secretary Holds Review Meeting on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) State Chief Secretaries to track and monitor passengers from affected countries

The Cabinet Secretary took a meeting today with Secretaries and senior officers of Ministries of Health, Civil Aviation, MHA, MEA and I&B to review preparedness of the government on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). He was briefed on the scale of the EVD and steps taken by the different Ministries towards prevention and surveillance of the suspected cases. He has directed for creation of a portal for systematic, easy and effective information sharing between the different Ministries on the passengers travelling to India from the different affected countries which will enable more effective surveillance and tracking of the suspected cases. The Health Ministry will train the immigration officers at the identified airports on how to deal with the passengers travelling from the affected countries. It was also decided in the meeting to sensitise the cabin crew of different airlines towards the nature of the EVD to enable them to understand the issue and deal more effectively with the passengers. Health Ministry will create awareness among the common public through awareness generating advertisements and the electronic media.

Chief Secretaries of all the State Governments have been requested to track and monitor passengers from the affected countries. They have also been requested to strengthen the existing isolation facilities.

The World Health Organization has reported 1848 cases including 1013 death due to Ebola Virus Disease (as on 9th August 2014).  Country wise break up is as under:

Country	Cases	Deaths
Guinea	506	373
Liberia	599	323
Sierra Leone	730	315
Nigeria	13	02
Total	1848	1013

It is reiterated that as on date, there is no confirmed or even suspect case of Ebola Virus Disease in India.

One passenger, 28 year old male about whom some information about his illness in the immediate past, during his stay in Nigeria, was available, was admitted to Dr RML Hospital for observation on the morning of 10^th August 2014. He has been tested negative for Ebola Virus Disease  in tests done at National institute of Virology, Pune and National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi.

The call centre at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare received about 40 calls in the past 24 hours. The queries from public related to signs and symptoms of the disease and risk of travel has been answered.

Source:-PIB