Traveller from Uganda isolated after developing body ache, tests negative for Ebola

The Indian government is closely monitoring the evolving situation of the Ebola outbreak in Africa, as the Ministry of Health confirmed that there are no cases of the virus in India so far.

Sources have told ANI that the ministry is exercising caution after a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda reported mild body aches. The woman has been placed under isolation at the State-run Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Bengaluru for observation and further evaluation.

Her overall condition is reportedly healthy, and a sample has been collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology for laboratory testing.

The test result has come back negative for Ebola virus, accroding to sources at the health ministry.

DGCA mandates health screenings

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued fresh standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airlines to strengthen surveillance against the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, making passenger screening and health declarations mandatory for travellers arriving from or transiting through Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

More from Health

According to a DGCA office order dated May 22, all passengers and crew members arriving from affected regions will now be required to complete self-declaration forms (SDFs), regardless of nationality. The forms must be submitted at the designated immigration or health counters upon arrival in India.

The aviation regulator said that the measure was aimed at early identification of possible Ebola cases and preventing transmission within the country. Countries bordering Uganda and DRC, including South Sudan, have also been identified as high-risk zones for potential disease spread.

What are other countries doing?

Canada said on Tuesday it will temporarily ban residents from three ​African countries amid an Ebola outbreak.

Residents of the Democratic Republic ‌of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan will be banned from entering Canada for 90 days starting Wednesday, the Canadian government said. It said the ​temporary border measure aimed to reduce the risk of Ebola ​entering and spreading within Canada.

Last week, Washington banned non-citizens who had traveled to the DRC, Uganda or ​South Sudan in recent weeks from entering the United States.

Canadian ​citizens, permanent residents and other foreign nationals who have been in affected areas in ‌recent ⁠weeks and do not have symptoms will have to quarantine for 21 days from May 30, according to a statement from Canada's public health agency.

A source told Reuters earlier that The Bahamas was also expected to ​announce an entry ​ban on people ⁠who have traveled to the same three African countries in the past 21 days.