Telangana Confirms Zero Ebola Cases as Health Sector Maintains High Alert

Telangana's Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha has reassured the public that the state remains free of Ebola infections, with no individuals displaying symptoms of the disease having been identified thus far.

During a review meeting held on Tuesday at the Aarogyasri Trust office in Hyderabad, the minister emphasised that vigilant monitoring continues across the state. He called for calm among residents, stating that the government has implemented comprehensive precautionary protocols in light of recent Ebola outbreaks documented in several African nations.

The meeting brought together key health department leadership, including Principal Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu, Public Health Director Ravinder Naik, and Medical Education Director Narendra Kumar, along with other senior officials. The group reviewed the state's readiness measures and confirmed adherence to all guidelines issued by the Central government.

Airport Screening and Hospital Preparedness

Rigorous screening procedures have been established at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad for passengers originating from Ebola-affected regions, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. All incoming travellers undergo thermal screening and medical evaluation upon arrival.

Dedicated teams comprising physicians, health inspectors, field workers, and paramedical staff have been positioned at the airport to conduct these assessments. The health department has stationed 108 ambulances at strategic locations to remain available continuously for any emergency response.

Gandhi Hospital has established a dedicated 10-bed isolation facility to accommodate suspected cases. Dr Sunil Kumar, the General Medicine head, has been designated as the nodal officer overseeing Ebola surveillance operations. Any suspected samples will be forwarded to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for definitive testing.

Passenger Monitoring

Individuals arriving from affected countries without displaying symptoms have been placed under mandatory 21-day home isolation protocols. District-level surveillance teams conduct regular check-ins on these individuals throughout their isolation period.

As of May 25, a total of 58 passengers had arrived in Hyderabad from Ebola-affected nations. None exhibited any symptoms associated with the disease. All have been classified under Category-I status and placed under home quarantine arrangements.

The Health Minister directed officials to maintain unwavering vigilance in their monitoring efforts and instructed them to immediately transfer any suspected patient to Gandhi Hospital's isolation ward. He also instructed government hospitals to remain prepared and strictly observe infection control standards, while emphasising the importance of seamless coordination between airport personnel, district surveillance teams, and hospital staff.