Bengaluru: With reports of Ebola triggering panic around the world, the doctors at the city’s Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, which has been identified by the government to treat those infected by the virus, are on their toes.
“Though no Ebola cases have been reported in our country and screening process is on, stringent measures need to be taken to prevent its entry and airport authorities have a major role to play,” said Dr Shashidhar Buggi, Director of RGICD.
The hospital has designated a 15-bedded ward for Ebola cases and any suspected cases screened at the airport will be sent to this ward for treatment.
“People, including doctors, nurses, officials and students coming from the West African countries should be screened carefully to prevent the virus from entering the country.
It is the only cost-effective and important measure that needs to be taken and hence airport authorities should be on high alert in this regard,” added Dr Shashidhar. Recently two suspected cases were sent to RGICD but they tested negative for Ebola virus.
Epidemic Diseases Hospital has also dedicated a five-bed ward to take care of any overflow in numbers of Ebola cases. “As per the instruction from the Health Ministry we have designated a five-bed ward at our hospital in case there is an upsurge in the numbers of such cases,” said Dr Ansar Ahmed, Medical Superintendent of the hospital.
Regarding measures taken to curtail any probable outbreak, Dr Ansar said, “It needs to be treated as a catastrophe and the airport authorities should quarantine even the mildest fever cases coming from the West African countries.
I have also requested the Health Ministry to supply us with masks and body suits. It is better to stop all these people coming from these countries, as the fever starts late.”
As for chances of the virus spreading, Dr Shashidhar said, “It does not spread like H1N1 that is through the air, it can only spread through closer intimate contact, body fluids from the person infected with Ebola or objects contaminated by the virus.”
