Ebola scare: Surveillance beefed up at Kochi International Airport

KOCHI: Amid escalating global concerns over the Ebola virus outbreak, security and health protocols have been significantly tightened at the Cochin International Airport (CIAL). Following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of the outbreak as a Global Health Emergency, CIAL and the Airport Health Organisation convened an emergency meeting to review and fortify preventive strategies.

A dedicated 24-hour surveillance system is being deployed at the airport to identify symptomatic travellers and mitigate potential transmission. Authorities have mandated rigorous screening for passengers arriving either directly or indirectly from high-risk African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. To ensure comprehensive monitoring, international arrivals will undergo mandatory thermal screening and visual inspections.

The high-level emergency meeting was led by CIAL Airport Director Manu G, Airport Health Officer Dr. Rafael Teddy, and Senior Medical Officer Dr. Aisha Manika K.A. In response to the threat, the administration has issued strict directives for both airport staff and passengers to adhere to personal hygiene protocols, including the mandatory use of three-layer face masks and frequent hand sanitisation within the airport premises.

On the clinical front, the Health Department has finalised extensive medical arrangements to isolate and treat suspected cases detected during transit. Specialised isolation wards have already been activated at key regional facilities, including the Ernakulam General Hospital, Government Medical College in Kalamassery, and the Aluva District Hospital.

Medical experts at the meeting expressed particular concern over the 'Bundibugyo' strain, recognised as the most lethal of the five known Ebola virus species. The absence of a definitive vaccine or targeted treatment for this specific variant underscores the critical urgency of the current containment measures.

Ebola carries an alarming mortality rate ranging between 30 and 50 percent. The virus operates on an incubation period of 2 to 21 days, with early clinical manifestations including high fever, severe headache, sore throat, and acute muscle pain.