Ebola emergency in Africa: What India’s latest travel advisory means for travellers

As Ebola concerns rise in parts of Africa, the Indian government on Saturday issued a travel advisory asking citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan, while urging Indians currently in these countries to follow strict health precautions, according to a report by PTI. 

The advisory follows the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) decision on May 17 to declare the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also designated the outbreak affecting the DRC and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.

According to the advisory issued by the Indian government, the WHO’s IHR Emergency Committee on May 22 issued temporary recommendations to strengthen disease surveillance at points of entry to “detect, assess, report and manage travellers with unexplained febrile illness arriving from areas with documented Bundibugyo virus detection” while discouraging travel to the affected regions.

Countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, have been assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission.

“The Government of India advises all its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan,” it said.

Indian citizens currently residing in or travelling to these countries have been urged to strictly follow public health guidance issued by local authorities, maintain heightened hygiene precautions, avoid contact with symptomatic persons and seek immediate medical attention in case of fever or related symptoms.

Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by infection with the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and is known to have a high mortality rate.

No vaccines or specific treatments have yet been approved to prevent or treat Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo strain.

India has not reported any case of Ebola linked to the Bundibugyo strain so far, according to the advisory.

The government said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the affected countries in line with the WHO recommendations.