Delhi Airport Intensifies Ebola Screening for African Arrivals

Authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport have intensified health surveillance and screening procedures for international passengers arriving from Ebola-affected African nations following a rise in cases reported in parts of Central Africa. The enhanced measures come amid growing global concern over the spread of the virus, although Indian authorities have clarified that no Ebola cases have been detected in the country so far.

In an advisory issued on Thursday, Delhi airport officials said travelers arriving directly or indirectly from high-risk countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, will undergo immediate baseline health screening at international arrival terminals. The move is aimed at strengthening early detection systems and preventing any possible transmission of the Ebola virus through international travel routes.

Under the revised protocol, passengers from affected regions are required to undergo mandatory non-contact thermal screening at designated arrival corridors. Authorities have also made it compulsory for incoming travelers to submit detailed self-declaration forms mentioning their travel history over the previous 21 days along with disclosure of symptoms such as fever, body pain, weakness, or unexplained bleeding. Officials said symptomatic passengers or those with elevated temperature readings would be isolated immediately in specially designated medical bays.

Also Read: Over 400 Workers Including Children Rescued From Telangana Kilns

The preventive measures have reportedly been introduced under directions issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the Airport Health Organization. The center has additionally circulated detailed standard operating procedures to all states and union territories to ensure a uniform response mechanism across the country. These guidelines cover pre-arrival and post-arrival screening, quarantine procedures, laboratory testing protocols, institutional referrals, and emergency case management systems.

Authorities said India’s current risk assessment remains low despite the global alert. However, health surveillance systems across airports and medical institutions have been strengthened significantly following the World Health Organization declaring the outbreak in parts of Central Africa a public health emergency of international concern. Officials indicated that rapid-response systems and coordination between airport health units and state authorities are being closely monitored as a precautionary measure.

Health experts have repeatedly warned that international air travel can accelerate the spread of infectious diseases if early detection systems are not enforced effectively. The latest advisory reflects India’s broader strategy of preventive preparedness, particularly after the lessons learned during previous global health emergencies. Authorities have urged travelers arriving from affected regions to cooperate fully with screening procedures and immediately report any symptoms to health officials for timely medical evaluation.

Also Read: India Condemns Pakistan's 'Genocidal Acts' at UN Security Council