Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday assuaged
fears of an Ebola outbreak in the country. He said despite the presence
of an Indian national who has tested positive for the virus, there is no
fear of contamination.
The 26year old male who is
currently in an isolation facility in the Delhi airport, is cured of
Ebola, but will remain in isolation for the 21day quarantine period,
Mr. Nadda said. He said authorities at all ports of entry to the country
have been asked to reinforce screening of arrivals to ensure there are
no lapses.
“This individual too is cured of Ebola,
but we decided to test him for the virus and found it in his semen.
Since he can pass it through sexual contact, we have decided to
quarantine him. He will be released only when his tests comes back
negative. All precautions are being taken and there is no reason for
panic,” an official of the Health Ministry said here on Wednesday.
The
detection of the virus in the 26yearold man, who reached here on
November 10, was a result of “extra caution” shown by the government, he
told reporters. “Due to its extra caution, the Health Ministry tested
body fluids of the man even after his blood tested negative for Ebola. I
want to say the situation is under complete control. We have similar
arrangements at 24 airports across the country,” he told reporters.
The
tour and medical history of passengers are being checked at airports,
he said. The man will remain quarantined at a special facility at Delhi
airport so long as medical reports confirm that he is completely rid of
the virus.
The man was treated for Ebola in Liberia
and carried a certificate from authorities there that he was cured. The
Ministry had said the man was already treated for the deadly disease in
the African country and carried no symptoms but tests of his semen
samples were positive, prompting authorities to put him under isolation. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/no-ebola-threat-in-india-health-minister/article6615002.ece