A 28-year-old Ugandan woman who was quarantined in the Indian tech hub of Bengaluru on suspicion of having the Ebola virus has tested negative for the infection, India's health ministry announced on Wednesday. The ministry, however, did not specify whether she would be released from isolation.
Negative Test Result
The health ministry stated in a release: "The test result has returned negative for Ebola virus disease." If confirmed positive, it would have been India's first Ebola case since 2014. The woman, who arrived from Uganda via the western industrial city of Ahmedabad, did not show symptoms and was quarantined as a precautionary measure. Dr. Anil Kumar Banagar, medical superintendent at the hospital where she was isolated, noted that she experienced mild body ache.
India's Preparedness Measures
The development follows a meeting chaired by Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda to review the country's readiness to tackle the disease, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern. India has implemented screening and surveillance at airports and other entry points, issued advisories on precautions, and urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan. Additionally, the India-Africa Forum Summit scheduled for this week in New Delhi has been postponed due to public health concerns in Africa.
Global Ebola Situation
The WHO has confirmed 101 cases among more than 900 globally suspected of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists. The woman's negative result provides relief to Indian health authorities who had been on high alert.
