A woman from Uganda who flew to Bengaluru has been isolated at a government hospital after she showed symptoms of body ache, according to the Union Ministry. The statement comes as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued fresh standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airlines to strengthen surveillance against the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.
The woman is currently admitted to the state-run Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Bengaluru for observation and is reportedly healthy. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare did not provide further details about the woman or when she arrived in Bengaluru from Africa. However, it confirmed that there are no cases of the virus in India so far. The ministry said her sample has been collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology for laboratory testing, and test results are awaited. “At present, no case of Ebola virus disease has been confirmed in India,” the statement said.
However, news agency ANI, quoting sources, said she tested negative for Ebola.
The woman, a 28-year-old from Uganda, arrived at the Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport on May 23. Though she had no fever, the authorities noticed signs of fatigue during screening, following which her samples were collected.
“We are still not sure (of her symptoms). The Airport Health Organisation noticed signs such as fatigue and decided to collect samples,” Karnataka health department principal secretary Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey told The Times of India.
She, however, checked herself into a hotel first, but authorities intervened and moved her to the State-run Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Indiranagar after developing mild symptoms, including body ache.