Ebola Risk in Nepal and Government Measures Taken
Image source, Reuters
Published
Reading time: 4 minutes
The Ministry of Health and Population has stated that Nepal has heightened vigilance following the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of an international public health emergency concerning the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
WHO declared a “public health emergency of international concern” on Sunday in response to the spread of Ebola in Ituri Province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which has triggered global concern.
The Ministry has indicated that Nepali and foreign travelers arriving from affected countries are being screened and instructed to undergo quarantine.
Although there are no confirmed Ebola cases in India yet, the Ministry reported that no special preparations are currently underway at land borders, but authorities remain prepared.
A specialist in infectious diseases has advised that while the current risk is low, maintaining caution is necessary and there is no reason to panic.
Approximately 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been reported in the ongoing outbreak in Ituri Province, eastern Congo.
However, WHO warns that the outbreak might be larger than publicly disclosed and poses risks of local and regional spread.
Government Response
In response to the WHO’s emergency declaration, the Ministry of Health and Population and relevant agencies have convened central-level meetings to discuss proactive measures.
The Ministry’s Deputy Spokesperson Sameer Kumar Adhikari explained that screening protocols have been implemented at airports to mitigate increased Ebola risk from travelers arriving abroad.
“If anyone arrives showing suspicious symptoms or has traveled from affected countries, they will be quarantined and informed accordingly,” he said.
“Nepali movements to and from Congo and Uganda are common; anyone arriving through these routes will undergo screening, quarantine, and testing as applicable.”
Nepali peacekeepers serving in Congo are regularly screened for health status during travels.
“Peacekeepers are required to quarantine both before deployment and after returning before they can leave isolation, and we adhere strictly to this process,” Adhikari added.
“Security measures targeting Ebola at land border points will be strengthened according to the situation in neighboring countries like India,” he said.
Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, senior physician at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku, stated that while there is no immediate cause for alarm, vigilance remains important.
He noted previous examples of illnesses such as Monkeypox being brought from abroad and appearing in Nepal, emphasizing the need for caution regarding Ebola as well.
“Although the Monkeypox virus originated in Africa, cases emerged recently in Europe and Nepal,” Dr. Pun added.
“Ebola poses the risk of reaching third countries and transmitting to Nepalis, so the risk remains ongoing.”
He highlighted that although no cases have been confirmed in India yet, should the virus appear there, the risk level for Nepal would increase accordingly.
What is the Ebola Virus?
Image source, Reuters
Health authorities report that the current Ebola strain is the Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved medicine or vaccine exists at present.
Initial symptoms of Ebola include fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and bleeding.
The virus has also been confirmed outside Congo, notably in neighboring Uganda.
Ebola was first identified in 1976 in Congo and is believed to transmit from bats. This is Congo’s 17th outbreak.
WHO states there is no validated treatment for Ebola, which has an average fatality rate close to 50%.
Over the last 50 years, more than 15,000 deaths have been recorded due to Ebola across Africa.
The largest outbreak occurred between 2018 and 2020 in Congo, with approximately 2,300 fatalities.
Last year, an outbreak in remote regions of Congo caused 45 deaths.
We are also on YouTube. To subscribe to our channel and watch videos, click here. You can also find our content on Facebook, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Additionally, you can listen to the BBC Nepali Service program on the radio at 8:45 PM from Monday to Friday.