Govt seeks clarity on ebola screening

 Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the precautionary measures need to be put in place following Ebola breakout worldwide.

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, Khader said that there was no clarity on instructions to screen travellers at airports. “We wish to know more about the protocols for screening and also there is a need for clear guidelines that need to be followed,” the minister said.

He said that flights from affected areas arrive only at Delhi and Mumbai airports and hence there was a need for thorough screening at these airports. “None of these flights come to Bangalore or Mangalore,” he said.

If someone is suspected to have shown the symptoms, they must be immediately rushed to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and not be allowed to travel anywhere across the country,” Khader said quoting from the letter.

He suggested that if someone leaving a country was identified with Ebola symptoms, their Visa should be cancelled and they should not be allowed to leave the country. The minister said that there was no need to panic and adequate preventive measures need to be put in place.

Ban on tobacco
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Harshvardhan, has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on August 6 to implement the ban on  tobacco.