Gandhi Hospital Sets Up Isolation Ward as Telangana Boosts Ebola Readiness

The Telangana government has intensified its health surveillance systems amid rising concerns over the spread of Ebola virus disease in parts of Africa, with Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha assuring citizens that the state has not reported a single confirmed or suspected case so far.

Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Aarogyasri Trust office in Hyderabad on Tuesday, the minister said the government was closely monitoring the global situation and implementing all preventive measures recommended by the Centre. He urged people not to panic, stating that the health department was fully prepared to respond to any emergency.

Authorities have stepped up screening procedures at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, particularly for travellers arriving from Ebola-affected countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan . Dedicated medical teams comprising doctors, health inspectors and paramedical staff have been deployed at the airport to conduct thermal screening and monitor passengers for symptoms.

Officials informed the minister that 58 passengers from affected regions had arrived in Hyderabad by May 25. Although none of them displayed symptoms associated with Ebola, all have been placed under 21-day home isolation as a precaution. District surveillance teams are tracking their health condition on a daily basis.

To strengthen emergency preparedness, the state government has kept 108 ambulance services on round-the-clock alert and established a 10-bed isolation ward at Gandhi Hospital for handling suspected infections. Samples from any suspected cases will be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) for confirmatory testing.

Health officials said Ebola does not spread through air like Covid-19 but through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. Early symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea, making rapid identification and isolation critical in preventing transmission.

The minister directed all government hospitals and public health institutions to remain on high alert and strictly follow infection-control protocols. He emphasised that there should be “zero negligence” in monitoring international travellers and handling potential health risks as global concerns over Ebola continue to grow.