Ebola scare at Bengaluru airport
Bengaluru: A health alert was triggered at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after a 28-year-old woman from Uganda, who recently travelled from an Ebola-affected region, was isolated as a precautionary measure following her arrival in the city.
According to health officials, the woman developed mild symptoms, including body aches, after reaching Bengaluru on Saturday (May 23).
Authorities immediately activated emergency health protocols and shifted her from a hotel to the Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Indira Nagar for observation and treatment.
Medical teams collected her samples and sent them to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for Ebola testing. Officials said a repeat test will also be conducted as part of standard protocol. Her condition is currently stated to be stable, while doctors continue to monitor her closely under strict infection-control measures.
Karnataka on High Alert After WHO Warning
The development comes amid growing global concern over the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. The World Health Organization recently declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC) on May 17.
Following the alert, the Karnataka Health Department issued an advisory asking all individuals returning from Ebola-affected countries to undergo self-monitoring for 21 days. Officials instructed travellers to immediately report symptoms such as fever, body pain, weakness, vomiting, or bleeding to the nearest health facility.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have also been directed to intensify surveillance and contact-tracing measures across the state.
Isolation and Quarantine Centres Identified
The Karnataka government has designated specialised facilities to tackle any possible Ebola-related emergency.
In Bengaluru, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases has been identified as the isolation centre, while the Epidemic Diseases Hospital will function as the quarantine and treatment facility.
In Mangaluru, the Srinivas Port Hospital under the New Mangalore Port Authority has been designated as the quarantine centre, while the Wenlock District Hospital will serve as the isolation and treatment facility.
Health authorities have urged the public not to panic, stating that all preventive measures are being strictly implemented while awaiting the woman’s test reports.
