Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has said that the state government has intensified precautionary measures in view of the rising spread of the Ebola virus in African countries, including Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
In a press statement, the Minister said, the Health Department is fully prepared to handle any emergency situation in line with advisories issued by the World Health Organization and guidelines of the Central government. He said special surveillance has been launched at the international airports in Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Vijayawada, where passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries will undergo medical screening based on their travel history.
Mr. Yadav said that symptomatic individuals would be immediately quarantined and their close contacts medically examined. He added that district administrations, airport authorities and Visakhapatnam Port officials have been directed to coordinate preventive measures.
The Minister said the government is also preparing a comprehensive action plan based on lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolation wards with 15 beds each are being set up in teaching hospitals located in cities with international airports, while adequate stocks of PPE kits and testing equipment have also been kept ready. He advised people to avoid non-essential travel to Ebola-affected countries and urged recent travellers showing symptoms to immediately contact health authorities.
