Ebola: Govt says situation under control

Arrangements similar to the one at Delhi airport have been put in place at 24 different airports

A day after the first Ebola case was reported in India, Health Minister J P Nadda today said arrangements similar to the one at Delhi airport, which helped detect the virus in a man returning from Liberia, have been put in place at 24 airports and stressed the situation was under 'complete control'.

The detection of the virus in the 26-year-old man, who reached here on November 10, was a result of 'extra caution' shown by the government, he told reporters.

"Due to its extra caution, the Health Ministry tested body fluids of the man even after his blood tested negative for Ebola. I want to say the situation is under complete control. We have similar arrangements at 24 airports across the country," he told reporters.

The tour and medical history of passengers are being checked at airports, he said.

The man will remain quarantined at a special facility at Delhi airport so long as medical reports confirm that he is completely rid of the virus.

The man was treated for Ebola in Liberia and carried certificate from authorities there that he was cured of it.

The ministry had said the man was already treated for the deadly disease in the African country and carried no symptoms but tests of his semen samples were positive, prompting authorities to put him under isolation.