Suspected Ebola case detected in Gujarat, passenger shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital

Gujarat reported its first suspected Ebola case on Monday after a passenger who travelled from Congo to Vadodara via Mumbai was identified during health screening at Ahmedabad airport and shifted to the hospital for further examination, health officials said.

The 37-year-old suspected patient has been admitted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital with symptoms of an infectious haemorrhagic fever, where blood samples will be collected and sent for detailed laboratory testing.

The development comes amid rising concern over the spread of the Ebola virus in several African nations, including Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.

Health authorities clarified that the case remains only “suspected” at present and that no confirmed Ebola infection has yet been reported in Gujarat or elsewhere in India.

Meanwhile, the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has intensified surveillance and precautionary measures for passengers arriving from Ebola-affected countries.

Officials said 11 passengers who recently arrived in Ahmedabad from Uganda, Congo and South Sudan are currently under home isolation as a preventive measure.

According to the health department, all these passengers reside in western areas of Ahmedabad.

Authorities said none of them have shown Ebola symptoms so far, nor have they reportedly come into contact with confirmed Ebola patients abroad.

However, officials stated that home isolation has now been made mandatory for all passengers arriving from the affected African countries.

To strengthen preparedness, a dedicated 30-bed quarantine ward has been set up at SVP Hospital for suspected Ebola patients.

Health authorities said Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has emerged as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern globally, prompting stricter airport screening and surveillance measures.

Under guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, international passengers arriving at airports are now required to submit Self Declaration Forms (SDFs).

Officials said announcements regarding the forms are being made onboard flights to reduce congestion and minimise infection risks at airports.

Around 247 frontline health workers have been deployed in the arrival areas of airports for passenger screening and monitoring, authorities added.

At Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, intensive screening is currently being conducted daily between 6 pm and 10 am for passengers arriving from Uganda, Congo and South Sudan.

Officials stressed that the screening process is specifically targeted at travellers from affected countries and that ordinary passengers need not panic.

According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola cases have risen in Congo’s Ituri province, where around 80 deaths and 246 suspected infections have reportedly been recorded.

Health experts said the current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, raising concerns because most existing vaccines and treatments were primarily developed against the Zaire strain.

Ebola Virus Disease was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in Africa and is known for its high fatality rate, ranging between 25 and 90 per cent in severe outbreaks.

The virus spreads through direct contact with blood, saliva, vomit and other bodily fluids of infected persons.