Amid growing global concern over the Ebola outbreak, a 28-year-old woman from Uganda who developed mild symptoms linked to the virus has been shifted to the state-run Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Bengaluru as a precautionary measure.
Health Department officials said the woman had recently arrived from an Ebola-affected region and was staying at a hotel in the city before developing symptoms such as body ache. She was later moved to the designated quarantine and treatment facility for close monitoring.
Officials confirmed that her samples have been collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for testing. As per established protocol, a repeat test will also be conducted. Her condition is currently reported to be stable.
Karnataka steps up Ebola preparedness
The Karnataka Health Department has intensified surveillance measures following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17.
Authorities have advised individuals returning from Ebola-affected countries to monitor their health for 21 days and immediately report symptoms such as fever, body pain, weakness, vomiting, or bleeding.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have also been activated for surveillance and emergency response across the state.
Isolation centres identified in Karnataka
In Bengaluru, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases has been identified as the isolation centre, while the Epidemic Diseases Hospital will serve as the quarantine and treatment facility.
In Mangaluru, Srinivas Port Hospital under the New Mangalore Port Authority has been designated as the quarantine centre, while Wenlock District Hospital will function as the isolation and treatment centre.
Health officials have urged the public not to panic and assured that all preventive measures are being strictly followed.