Ebola alert at Raipur Airport

The Chhattisgarh Health Department stepped up vigil on Monday due to a potential Ebola threat. Precautionary measures have been intensified across the state, with a focus on early detection and rapid response. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), operating under the Directorate of Health Services, issued detailed instructions to officials to strengthen monitoring and containment mechanisms.

As part of the advisory, special surveillance arrangements were put in place at Raipur airport. Authorities have been directed to ensure thorough health screening of incoming passengers and to identify individuals showing any suspicious symptoms.

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The Raipur Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) has been asked to appoint a nodal officer at the airport. The officer will oversee screening operations and coordinate all related activities to ensure seamless monitoring.

The Health Department emphasised that any suspected case must be reported immediately to the concerned health units. This is aimed at enabling prompt action and preventing any possible spread of infection.

Officials have also been instructed to keep isolation facilities, referral systems and emergency medical management fully operational. Preparedness at all levels, the department said, is essential to handle any eventuality.

The alert follows a rise in Ebola cases in countries such as Congo and Uganda, which has led to heightened global concern. In response, surveillance and precautionary measures are being strengthened in India as well.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has already classified Ebola as a major public health concern of international significance. The state authorities are prioritising preparedness and monitoring. The state health officials have clarified that no case has been reported in Chhattisgarh so far. However, they stressed that early vigilance and coordinated response remain crucial to ensuring public safety.