KOTTAYAM, Jun 19 (INS): There has not been a confirmed case of Ebola in India.
However, health authorities in Kerala are currently managing the first suspected
case involving a 52-year-old woman who recently returned to the State from South
Sudan. She has been placed in an isolation ward at the Government Medical College
Hospital in Kottayam as a precautionary measure while officials await
laboratory test confirmation.
The woman from Valavoor, Pala, near Kottayam, was working in South Sudan. She
flew from South Sudan to Kerala via Uganda, arriving in the State on June 17.
She initially sought treatment at a private hospital in Pala after developing
a fever and vomiting, and was sent to the medical college.
According to medical officials, she has a fever but does not currently exhibit
other severe symptoms typically associated with advanced Ebola. Due to her recent
travel from an area with active African virus surveillance, the health department
moved her to a dedicated isolation ward at the Medical College.
Blood samples have been collected and sent to a specialized laboratory for
definitive testing. Results are expected to be released shortly.
Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan stated that preliminary assessments
by the Medical Superintendent indicate no immediate cause for alarm.
Health authorities have already initiated contact tracing protocols and compiled
a contact list to monitor individuals who interacted with her since her arrival.
Hospitals across Kerala remain on high alert. Travelers arriving from African
countries are strictly advised to report to the health department if they experience
fever or related symptoms.
The Central Government has kept health systems on high alert since the World
Health Organization (WHO) flagged international concerns regarding the rarer
Bundibugyo strain of the virus spreading in parts of central Africa.
Kerala's health department uses highly proactive isolation protocols to prevent
potential outbreaks of high-consequence pathogens, drawing from successful experiences
managing previous localized viral scares.
The ongoing monitoring in Africa focuses on the Bundibugyo strain, which has
prompted increased border entry health screenings for travelers globally.
Ebola symptoms
Transition from early flu-like "dry" signs to severe gastrointestinal "wet"
symptoms and potential bleeding, while prevention relies strictly on avoiding
contact with the body fluids of infected individuals.
According to health authorities like the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the Ebola virus has an incubation period of 2 to 21 days (averaging 8
to 10 days). An infected person is contagious only after he/she begins showing
symptoms. The virus does not spread through the air or casual contact like respiratory
illnesses.
The progression of Ebola virus disease is generally broken down into distinct
stages as the illness intensifies:
1. Early stage ("Dry" symptoms): Initial symptoms appear abruptly and closely
mimic other common tropical illnesses like malaria or typhoid: high fever (typically
above 100.4°F or 38°C), severe headache and sore throat, extreme fatigue, weakness
and loss of appetite, muscle, joint and back aches.
2. Mid to late stage ("Wet" Symptoms): After 4 to 5 days, the disease progresses
rapidly to affect internal organs and the gastrointestinal tract: severe, watery
diarrhoea and abdominal pain, persistent nausea and vomiting, red or bloodshot
eyes, paired with a non-itchy flat red rash, impaired kidney and liver function
3. Advanced haemorrhagic stage: Though visible bleeding does not occur in every
patient, advanced cases can exhibit unexplained bruising or purple spots under
the skin, internal and external bleeding (from the nose, gums, eyes, or rectum),
blood in vomit, stools, or feces, neurological changes such as confusion, irritability,
or aggression.
Prevention
Because the virus spreads through direct contact with the body fluids like
blood, vomit, feces, saliva, sweat or semen of someone who is sick or has died
from Ebola, prevention requires strict hygiene and isolation.
Avoid Direct Contact: Stay away from the blood and body fluids of any
individual exhibiting symptoms. Avoid contaminated objects. Do not touch items
like clothing, bedding, needles, or medical equipment that have been in contact
with an infected person. Practice strict hand hygiene. Wash hands frequently
with soap and clean water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Healthcare workers and caregivers
must wear full-body protective gear (gowns, masks, gloves, and eye shields)
to block all fluid splashes.
Safe burial practices: Avoid direct contact with the body of anyone
suspected or confirmed to have died of Ebola during funeral or burial rituals,
as the body remains highly contagious.
Avoid wildlife vectors: Refrain from handling or consuming bushmeat
and avoid contact with bats, non-human primates (monkeys, apes), or forest antelopes,
which are natural hosts of the virus.
Safe recovery practices: The virus can persist in certain body fluids
even after recovery. Survivors must follow strict medical guidance regarding
barrier protection during sexual activity.
Treatment
Ebola is primarily treated with two monoclonal antibody therapies—Inmazeb and
Ebanga—which target the Zaire ebolavirus. These medications must be paired with
aggressive supportive care to maximize a patient's chances of recovery.
Intensive supportive care
Ebola causes severe fluid loss and organ distress. Supportive therapy is crucial
to keep the body functioning while the immune system fights off the infection.
Interventions include IV fluids, electrolyte and fluid resuscitation to prevent
severe dehydration. Oxygen & ventilation: Respiratory support for patients experiencing
breathing difficulties. Hemodynamic support: Vasopressor medications to maintain
safe blood pressure. Symptom management: Treatments for nausea, diarrhoea and
pain, as well as blood transfusions for severe hemorrhaging.
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