The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) directing airlines to implement in-flight and arrival protocols for passengers travelling from or transiting through affected countries, including Uganda and Congo.
Under the SOP, airlines must ensure mandatory filing and collection of Self Declaration Forms before passengers de-board. Carriers have also been instructed to make in-flight announcements asking travellers experiencing symptoms such as fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash or bleeding to immediately report to cabin crew and medical authorities upon arrival.
The DGCA has also laid down onboard protocols for suspected Ebola cases. Symptomatic passengers are to be relocated to the rear end of the aircraft, while three surrounding rows should be kept vacant, if possible. Airlines have additionally been asked to maintain adequate stocks of PPE kits, masks, gloves, hand sanitisers and bio-hazard disposal bags.
Separately, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a public advisory for passengers arriving from or transiting through Ebola-affected countries, including DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
The advisory asked travellers showing symptoms associated with Ebola, or those who had direct contact with blood or body fluids of infected persons, to immediately report to Airport Health Officers or designated health desks before immigration clearance.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Monday said no Ebola case has been reported in India so far and reviewed preparedness and surveillance measures to prevent any possible outbreak in the country.
