Gandhinagar, May 25 (IANS) The Gujarat government has activated dedicated isolation wards in Ahmedabad and Surat and intensified airport screening measures following reported Ebola cases in Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, while maintaining that no case of the virus has been detected in the state or elsewhere in India.

As part of its preparedness measures, the state health department has operationalised 32-bed facilities at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and 10-bed facilities at Surat Civil Hospital for suspected Ebola patients.

In addition, a separate 60-bed isolation ward has been set up at SVP Hospital in Ahmedabad for suspected passengers arriving from affected countries.

The measures were reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya in Gandhinagar on Monday.

Senior officials of the health department attended the meeting, where detailed discussions were held on the state’s preparedness and advance planning in view of Ebola cases being reported in parts of Africa.

nPansheriya said the entire health department had been systematically organised to ensure strict implementation of the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Union Health Ministry.

“There is not a single case of Ebola virus in Gujarat or India at present, and citizens need not panic at all. All administrative and health officials of the state government are fully equipped and prepared to deal with any situation,” he said.

The minister said the state health department was maintaining special surveillance on passengers arriving from the most affected countries.

Intensive screening of all passengers arriving from Uganda, Congo, and South Sudan is being carried out at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA) in Ahmedabad between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.

He clarified that the screening was limited to passengers arriving from the affected countries and said there was “no cause for concern” for travellers arriving from other nations.

The government said the isolation facilities had been established as part of advanced preparations to handle any emergency situation.

Officials stated that if any passenger is suspected of infection, treatment can be started immediately in accordance with the central government’s guidelines.

“Only passengers arriving from the concerned countries need to exercise caution so that there is no possibility of the infection spreading,” Pansheriya said.

Reassuring the public, the minister emphasised that no Ebola cases had been reported anywhere in India or in Gujarat so far and urged people not to panic.

“The state health machinery remained fully committed to safeguarding citizens and maintaining readiness to respond to any possible health emergency,” he added.

–IANS

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