Mangalore : To prevent the spread of the highly contagious ebola virus in the State, special examination centres have been set up at the international airports in the city and Mangalore.  According to a press release on Friday, the spread of ebola, a contagious and deadly disease, has been reported in a few African countries. The centres have been set up on the directions of the Union Government. U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has directed officials of the health department to take all precautionary measures.

African countries, such as Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and South Africa are battling the spread of the ebola virus. It is feared that passengers from these countries could carry the deadly virus to India. As part of precautionary measures, all passengers are being screened at the two airports. “It is better for people to cancel visits to these countries for the next few months till it is brought under control,” Mr. Khader said in Mangalore on Friday.

He said the Centre has been asked to ensure detailed screening of passengers arriving from these countries in New Delhi and Mumbai. None of the passengers are arriving directly in Bangalore or Mangalore. In addition, Airports Authority of India has been asked to provide a list of passengers from these countries who are taking domestic flights to Bangalore or Mangalore. “This will help us to identify passengers and screen them,” he said.

Mr. Khader said guidelines for screening of persons suspected of ebola virus have been prepared. These include precautions that medical staff need to take when attending to such persons to avoid infection.

Symptoms

The virus spreads through blood, sweat, semen, vomit, urine and saliva. The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea, stomach ache, joint pain and bleeding. Passengers can get tested at the special examination counters and if required, they will be admitted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases.

To confirm the disease, the blood samples will be sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. Geetha Nyamagowdar, Director of Health and Family Welfare, said that precautionary measures are in place to prevent the spread of the disease. For details, call 080-22873151 or 080-26631923.