Headache To Weakness: Full List Of Symptoms Flyers Must Now Declare As India Makes Ebola Screening Mandatory

Passengers travelling to India from Ebola-affected regions in Africa have been advised to immediately alert cabin crew members or airport health authorities if they experience symptoms such as fever, sore throat, headache, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, rash or unexplained bleeding. Under fresh standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, travellers who develop symptoms within 21 days of arriving in India have also been instructed to seek medical attention at designated hospitals and promptly inform airport health authorities. The new guidelines form part of India’s intensified surveillance measures amid growing global concern over the spread of Ebola in parts of Africa.

Mandatory Screening Introduced For Travellers From Uganda And DRC: The DGCA has made passenger screening and health declarations compulsory for all travellers arriving from or transiting through Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to an office order issued on May 22, all passengers and crew members arriving from affected areas will now be required to fill out self-declaration forms (SDFs), regardless of nationality. These forms must be submitted at designated immigration or health counters upon arrival in India.

Officials said the move is aimed at identifying possible Ebola infections early and preventing transmission within the country. Countries bordering Uganda and the DRC, including South Sudan, have also been categorised as high-risk regions for potential spread of the disease. Under the new SOPs, airlines have been instructed to make mandatory health announcements during flights arriving from affected regions. Passengers must be informed about common Ebola symptoms and encouraged to report any signs of illness immediately to the crew. The aviation regulator has additionally introduced specific onboard protocols for handling suspected Ebola cases during flights.

Single Cabin Crew Member To Handle Suspected Cases: Airlines operating flights connected to affected regions have been directed to assign a single cabin crew member to attend to any symptomatic passenger during the journey in order to minimise exposure to others onboard. Aircraft arriving from high-risk regions will also be required to undergo proper disinfection procedures after landing in India. In addition, airlines have been instructed to organise targeted training programmes for crew members on Ebola-related public health safety measures and emergency response procedures.

WHO Has Declared Ebola Outbreak A Global Health Emergency: The stricter measures come amid mounting international concern following the World Health Organization’s decision to classify the Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the DRC as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the organisation’s highest level of health alert. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently warned that authorities were “playing catch-up” as delays in detecting infections had allowed the outbreak to spread rapidly. He cautioned that the situation may likely "get worse before it gets better”.

India Issues Travel Advisory For African Nations: Earlier this week, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also issued a travel advisory urging Indian citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. The advisory was issued shortly after the WHO elevated the outbreak to its highest international public health alert level. The latest aviation measures are part of India’s broader effort to prevent the possible import of Ebola infections while health authorities continue to closely monitor developments in Africa.