India Steps Up Ebola Preparedness As States Intensify Surveillance From Karnataka, Kerala To Gujarat

India has stepped up Ebola preparedness after the WHO declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Central Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), prompting several states — from Karnataka and Kerala to Gujarat — to activate surveillance systems, isolation facilities and emergency response mechanisms.

While India has reported no case of Ebola so far, in the ongoing 2026 virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, health officials report at least 234 total deaths. This figure includes 223 suspected deaths and 11 confirmed deaths, associated with over 1,018 suspected and confirmed cases.

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda recently chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the country’s preparedness against the virus, amid growing global concern over outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and neighbouring regions.

Officials reiterated that no Ebola case has been detected in India so far, but stressed that enhanced vigilance was necessary given increasing international travel and trade.

The Health Ministry officials said the government’s response reflects lessons learned during previous outbreaks of COVID-19, Nipah and monkeypox, where early surveillance and rapid containment played a critical role in preventing widespread transmission.

Across states, precautionary measures are now being intensified. In Karnataka, the Health Department has issued an Ebola alert and directed district authorities to strengthen surveillance of international travellers arriving from affected African countries. Travellers from nations such as Uganda and Congo are being monitored for 21 days — the maximum incubation period for the virus.

Karnataka State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has urged citizens not to panic, clarifying that no case has been reported either in the State or elsewhere in India. However, specialised quarantine and isolation facilities have already been identified in Bengaluru and Mangaluru as part of emergency preparedness measures.

According to state officials, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases has been designated as an isolation centre in Bengaluru, while the Epidemic Diseases Hospital will function as a quarantine and treatment facility. In Mangaluru, Srinivas Port Hospital and Wenlock District Hospital have been earmarked for quarantine and isolation management.

Rapid Response Teams have also been placed on alert, and healthcare workers are being trained in infection prevention protocols, use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and handling of suspected Ebola samples. Karnataka authorities said suspected samples would be routed through the National Institute of Virology (NIV) network for confirmatory testing.

In Kerala, which has previously managed Nipah virus outbreaks with aggressive contact tracing and surveillance strategies, the Health Department has activated statewide preventive measures and convened meetings of its State Rapid Response Team. Officials have strengthened airport surveillance and advised hospitals to remain prepared for any suspected cases.

Meanwhile, Gujarat has intensified screening and surveillance at airports and hospitals after reports of Ebola cases in African nations. State authorities said dedicated isolation facilities have been activated at civil hospitals in Ahmedabad and Surat as a precautionary measure.

Kerala Minister for Health Praful Pansheriya said the State machinery was fully prepared to tackle any emergency situation in accordance with standard operating procedures issued by the Centre.

Passenger screening at Ahmedabad International airport has also been strengthened for travellers arriving from Ebola-affected regions while Bihar is preparing to intensify surveillance measures at Patna Airport and major healthcare institutions across the State.

Special monitoring will be carried out for international travellers, particularly those arriving from African countries, said an official from the State Health Department.

Authorities have directed that individuals showing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea or unusual bleeding should be immediately screened and isolated.

Under the proposed State-level guidelines, separate isolation wards are being planned at medical college hospitals and district hospitals to strengthen preparedness against any possible Ebola-related emergency, said the Bihar official.

At the national level, the Union Health Ministry has advised all States and Union Territories to ensure readiness at hospitals, airports and surveillance units. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava recently reviewed preparedness measures with state health officials and directed authorities to reinforce disease surveillance, rapid response systems and isolation capacity.

Public health experts say Ebola remains one of the world’s deadliest viral infections, with mortality rates ranging from 25% to 90% depending on the outbreak and access to treatment.

The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals and is not considered an airborne infection like COVID-19. However, because of its high fatality rate and rapid clinical deterioration, early detection and isolation remain critical.

Ebola is a severe viral disease that can cause symptoms including fever, weakness, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, rash and red eyes.

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

Doctors say travellers returning from affected countries who develop symptoms within 21 days should immediately seek medical attention and avoid close contact with others.

Experts also caution against misinformation and panic. India’s current risk remains low, but preparedness is essential in an era of increasing global mobility and emerging infectious threats.

The recent measures, officials say, are aimed not at triggering alarm but at ensuring that India’s health system remains alert, coordinated and ready before any potential outbreak reaches its borders.