Lok Sabha Question No. 1783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-10
Subject: Ebola Epidemic
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. BHOLA SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1783 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th MARCH, 2017

## EBOLA EPIDEMIC

## 1783. DR. BHOLA SINGH:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any case of Ebola has been identified in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has reviewed  the  present  state  of  preparedness in  the  wake  of reports of inadequate drugs, equipment, trained manpower and quarantine facilities to deal with any outbreak of the Ebola virus in the country;
- (c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with the remedial measures being taken by the Government to strengthen the health infrastructure to deal with Ebola cases in this regard; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be taken  by  the  Government  for  development of  drugs  and vaccines to treat Ebola cases along with the outcome thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE ( SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- ( a): No case of Ebola virus disease has been reported in India.
- (b )& ( c): Government  reviewed  the  state  of  preparedness  in  the  wake  of World  Health Organization declaring the Ebola Disease outbreak in West Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 8 th August, 2014. Passengers arriving through flights that connect affected countries were screened at seven International airports and nine major ports. Special Health units functioned at these airports and were manned by trained medical and paramedical staff. The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme tracked such passengers who arrived fro affected countries and had history of contact with a suspect or confirmed Ebola case.

Clin ical samples from high risk cases were tested at National Centre for Disease Co and at National Institute of Virology, Pune. Ten more existing laboratories with required bio safety level (BSL) standards were identified to collect, test and store sampl es.

All samples were tested negative except for an Indian national who travelled from Li and had undergone treatment for Ebola Virus disease in that country and certified to be the  disease  was  found  to  carry  the  virus  in  his  body  fluid  (semen).  This  passenge quarantined at the quarantine centre of Airport Health Organization, Delhi ti ll such time his body fluid tested negative.

State Governments identified isolation facilities to manage cases of Ebola Virus Di There is no drug or vaccine available for managing Ebola Virus Disease.

Master Trainers of 25 States and Rapid Respons e Teams of all States/ Union Territories were trained and Personal Protective Equipments were provided to all States/Union Territor

24x7 helpline was established in Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

On meeting the criteria for interruption of transmission of Ebola virus by the affe countries, WHO terminated the Public Health Emergency of International Concern regardin Ebola  virus  disease  on  29 th March,  2016,  in  accordance  with  the  International  Health Regulatio ns (2005).

(d): Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  has  no  proposal  for  developing  drugs  an vaccines for treating Ebola Virus disease as of now .