Amid rising concerns over Ebola, A.P. steps up surveillance at airports
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Isolation beds and emergency equipment have been kept ready at KGH in Visakhapatnam, and the government hospitals in Vijayawada, Guntur, Tirupati and Kurnool. | Photo Credit: File Photo
Amid rising concerns over the spread of Ebola to neighbouring countries, the Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, A.P., has stepped up surveillance at three airports β Bhogapuram (Visakhapatnam), Vijayawada, and Tirupati β as a precautionary measure.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an official U.S. government website, the outbreak is spreading βsubstantially fasterβ than previous Ebola outbreaks and is now the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
In this connection, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare held a video conference on November 5, Thursday, with State governments regarding the precautionary measures to be taken. The Union government officials also reviewed the implementation of the Ebola guidelines.
A.P. Health Secretary G. Veerapandian, who took part in the conference, explained the arrangements being made in the State as part of the preparedness.
According to a release from the department on Thursday, isolation beds at five government hospitals, medical personnel, emergency equipment have been readied. Mr. Veerapandian informed the Union government that medical teams had been deputed at three airports to screen passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries for any symptoms. Similar arrangements are also in place at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Nellore ports.
A total of 46 beds, 3,288 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, 104 sample collection kits and five ambulances had been kept ready to deal with any eventuality, he said.
A mock drill will be conducted on November 12 to assess preparedness at the State and district levels, he said, adding that the departments concerned would be alerted to ensure that the guidelines are followed.
The Central officials have advised that passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries be screened for symptoms, and those who had direct contact with infected persons be placed under observation. The medical teams should verify travel history of even those who do not exhibit any symptoms, the officials said.
If any person exhibits any symptoms, they should be taken to the hospital where isolation beds have been set up, the officials told the States.
As of October 31, Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 10,467 cases and 5,103 deaths, Kenya nine cases and two deaths, Uganda 20 cases and two deaths, Nigeria one case and France one case. Overall, 10,498 confirmed cases and 5,107 deaths were reported across five countries.
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