Nothing to panic on Ebola: Govt

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Oct 17 2014 | 9:35 PM IST
Amid globals concerns over the spread of Ebola, government today said there is "nothing to panic" and "all systems are in place" to deal with any outbreak of the deadly disease in the country.
Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth said passengers arriving from affected countries in all 19 states having airports and sea ports are being screened.
Surveillance has been "stepped up" at sea ports, which are another transit point, he said.
"There is really nothing to panic. We have all arrangements which are working," he told NDTV.
Seth had chaired a high-level meeting yesterday to review preparedness due to emerging global crisis on Ebola.
India has so far not reported any case of the disease while it has screened over 22,150 passengers and more than 450 of them were quarantined for having suspect symptoms.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the country is "totally prepared" and there is no cause for "any panic or alarm or worry".
Seth said personnel protection equipment, which is meant to protect health workers as many of them globally contracted the lethal virus after coming in contact with Ebola victims, are being sent to states.
The Centre is also holding three-day training programme for doctors and auxiliary staff from states from October 19 to train them on dealing with the disease, he said.
Experts say Ebola is transmitted by close contact with the bodily fluids of a person who is showing symptoms of infection such as fever, aches, vomiting and diarrhoea, or who has recently died of the hemorrhagic virus.
The world's largest outbreak of Ebola has killed more than 4,000 people out of over 8,000 infected this year.
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First Published: Oct 17 2014 | 9:35 PM IST

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