Bhubaneswar Airport Steps Up Health Checks Following WHO Ebola Warning

Authorities at Biju Patnaik International Airport have intensified health surveillance measures for international passengers, including mandatory thermal screening and travel-history checks, following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Airport Director Prasanna Pradhan said the arrangements were made as per instructions from the health department and the Union Health Ministry. Officials are checking the 21-day travel history of all international passengers to identify possible exposure risks linked to affected regions.

“The arrangement has also been made on the airport premises for isolation and testing as per the Ebola screening guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry,” Pradhan said. Strict surveillance was maintained after an international flight from Bangkok landed at the airport on Saturday, with health officials closely monitoring passengers for symptoms linked to the virus.

Travellers have been advised to immediately report symptoms such as high fever, body ache, weakness and unusual fatigue . The Health Ministry advisory also lists headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, rash and red eyes among warning signs.

The Centre has directed all states and Union territories to strengthen surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and improve hospital preparedness for suspected Ebola cases, especially among travellers arriving from affected countries.

The enhanced airport checks reflect India’s growing focus on public-health preparedness after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in rapid-response systems. In recent years, airports have expanded quarantine facilities, emergency isolation areas and screening mechanisms to handle infectious disease threats while ensuring smooth international travel.

Health experts say screening and travel-history monitoring remain crucial first-response tools, but stress that rapid testing, contact tracing and coordination between airport and health authorities are equally vital in preventing outbreaks.