Four Isolated in Gujarat Over Suspected Ebola Exposure

• Congo businessman isolated in Ahmedabad over suspected Ebola infection
• Three close contacts also admitted to isolation wards
• Gujarat government says no Ebola case confirmed so far
• Samples sent to Pune as precautionary measure

GG News Bureau
Ahmedabad, 28th May: Four individuals, including a businessman from Democratic Republic of the Congo, have been admitted to isolation wards at hospitals in Ahmedabad after suspected exposure to the Ebola virus, Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said on Wednesday.

The minister clarified that no Ebola infection has been confirmed so far and urged people not to panic.

According to officials, the 37-year-old businessman arrived in Mumbai from Congo around five to seven days ago before travelling to Vadodara. After developing fever symptoms, he was admitted to a private hospital in Vadodara and later shifted to the Ebola ward at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital as a precautionary measure.

Pansheriya said the patient is currently stable, his temperature is under control and there are no alarming symptoms among people associated with him.

Two individuals who accompanied the businessman have been admitted to isolation wards at SVP Hospital, while another person who came in contact with them has also been isolated.

The health minister said all four individuals will remain under observation for 10 to 11 days and their blood samples have been sent to Pune for testing.

The development comes after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17.

Following the outbreak in several African countries, the Gujarat Health Department has intensified screening of passengers arriving from Uganda, Congo and South Sudan at Ahmedabad International Airport. Isolation wards have also been prepared in government hospitals across the state.

Pansheriya said a similar suspected case had previously tested negative and reiterated that there is currently no confirmed Ebola case in either Gujarat or India.

“Only as a precautionary step, we are carefully monitoring passengers arriving from those countries, especially if they show symptoms such as mild fever, cold or cough, to prevent any possible spread of infection,” he said.

The minister also appealed to citizens not to believe rumours and advised people to immediately contact health officials or nearby hospitals if they notice any symptoms or health concerns.