Telangana Ramps Up Ebola Preparedness Following Health Ministry Alert

Hyderabad: Following an Ebola virus alert issued by the Union Health Ministry, Telangana has accelerated its readiness measures across multiple sectors as the disease continues to pose concerns in several African nations.

State health authorities have indicated that the likelihood of Ebola entering Telangana remains minimal. Nevertheless, monitoring systems have been reinforced to intercept any potential transmission pathways via international arrivals.

At Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, medical personnel have been deployed to screen all passengers arriving from abroad. The airport has also instituted dedicated check-in points specifically for travellers originating from African countries, where medical teams conduct symptom assessments and health evaluations.

In parallel, the state has prioritised bolstering its healthcare infrastructure. Gandhi Hospital has commissioned a dedicated Ebola State Nodal Centre comprising 25 beds spread across eight rooms on the seventh floor of its main complex. According to Hospital Superintendent Dr Vani, this facility stands ready for any potential cases.

A three-member delegation from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) conducted an inspection of Gandhi Hospital on Friday to assess the state's preparedness framework. The visiting team—comprising NCDC Joint Director Dr Praveen Madala, AIIMS Bibinagar microbiologist Dr Rahul Gard, and SRD Varun—reviewed emergency protocols, isolation infrastructure, and medical equipment alongside Gandhi Hospital Superintendent Prof Vani, Ebola State Nodal Officer Prof Sunil Kumar, and Associate Professor of General Medicine Dr Vamsi Krishna.

State health officials have affirmed their commitment to sustained surveillance and adherence to all preventive guidelines issued by the Centre.