No Ebola cases in India, says Karnataka Health Dept; issues travel advisory

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, May 23, 2026: In view of the Ebola outbreak reported in some African countries, the Karnataka Health Department on Friday advised people returning from affected nations to undergo health monitoring and self-observation for 21 days after arriving in India.

The department clarified that no Ebola cases have been reported in India so far. However, given the extent of international travel and trade, precautionary preparedness measures have been intensified across the state.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had on May 17, 2026, declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC).

In a release, the department urged the public not to panic and to rely only on official information. It advised individuals who have recently travelled to Ebola-affected countries to closely monitor their health for 21 days after returning to India.

People experiencing symptoms are advised to immediately visit the nearest health facility, while Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) will carry out surveillance activities.

The department said the state government is continuously monitoring the situation and has taken all necessary preparedness and precautionary measures.

According to health officials, Ebola is a severe viral disease that can cause symptoms such as fever, weakness, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, rash, and redness of the eyes.

The disease spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or organs of infected persons, as well as through contaminated materials including clothes, bedding, and syringes. Healthcare workers, family members, and close contacts of infected persons are considered to be at higher risk.

The department said preparedness measures in Karnataka include enhanced surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), coordination with airports and Points of Entry (PoEs), and the establishment of quarantine and isolation facilities along with referral ambulance services.

Additional measures include training healthcare personnel, strengthening infection prevention and control systems, ensuring adequate availability of PPE kits, medicines, and laboratory facilities, and keeping Rapid Response Teams on alert.

In Bengaluru, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) has been designated as the isolation centre, while the Epidemic Diseases Hospital has been identified as the quarantine and treatment centre.

In Mangaluru, Srinivas Port Hospital under NMPA has been identified as the quarantine centre, while Wenlock District Hospital has been designated as the isolation and treatment facility.

Dedicated ambulance services have also been arranged for transporting suspected Ebola patients to designated hospitals.

The department added that samples from suspected Ebola cases will be collected through NIV Bengaluru and sent to NIV Pune for confirmatory testing.