Home / Health / Ebola Fears: Kochi Airport Steps Up Health Screenings
Ebola Fears: Kochi Airport Steps Up Health Screenings
22 May
Summary
- Health authorities intensified Ebola surveillance at Kochi airport.
- 24x7 monitoring and thermal screening are active for international passengers.
- Special focus on travelers from Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Cochin International Airport in Kochi, Kerala, has significantly intensified health surveillance and precautionary measures against the Ebola virus. Following an emergency preparedness meeting, authorities activated a 24x7 monitoring system for international passengers. This includes thermal screening, verification of travel history, and mandatory self-declaration forms.
Special attention is being given to travelers arriving from countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, where Ebola outbreaks remain a concern. Isolation wards have been arranged at local hospitals to bolster emergency preparedness.
Officials noted that there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo Ebola Virus variant. The disease can spread from animals to humans and through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, with an incubation period of two to 21 days. Early symptoms include fever, sore throat, and flu-like signs, and the mortality rate can range from 30 to 50 percent. Strict adherence to infection prevention measures, including mask-wearing and hand hygiene, is emphasized.
