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No confirmed cases of Ebola in India: WHO

30 August 2014 | News | By BioSpectrum Bureau

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, regional director, WHO South-East Asia

Singapore: "Despite rumors," said Dr Poonam Singh, "there have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in the eleven countries of WHO's South-East Asia Region, including India."

According to Dr Singh, an Ebola Response Roadmap has been developed by WHO with accelerated and focused activities for the next 6 to 9 months.

The estimated financial requirement for the implementation of this roadmap is around $430 million, she revealed.

The following are the objectives of the roadmap:

•Full geographic coverage with Ebola response activities in countries with widespread transmission
•Ensuring emergency application of Ebola response interventions in newly affected countries
•Strengthening global preparedness

"This is the time to step-up preparedness. A successful public health response will need strong health systems with sensitive surveillance, infection control and community mobilization," Dr Singh opined.

 

WHO has been working closely with national authorities in West Africa and leading the international response. Dr Margaret Chan, director general, WHO, visited West Africa and held discussions with heads of governments.

More than 400 experts and WHO staff from all over the world have been mobilized to the epicenter of the event in West Africa to assist efforts of national authorities.

"We are sharing information on the evolution of the event with all member States along with technical guidelines on all aspects of the disease. Through WHO's accredited laboratories network, and support to shipment of infectious material to these labs, it is assisting countries in establishing a diagnosis of suspected cases," Dr Singh said.

Currently there are 45,000 Indians living in the Ebola-affected West African countries.

According to a latest report, 6 people who had arrived at Delhi airport this morning from Ebola-hit Liberia have already been quarantined and taken out for various laboratory tests.

 

A NDTV report said that today around 112 passengers are expected to arrive in Delhi and Mumbai airports from the affected regions.

 

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