High alert in Jharkhand’s border districts amid Ebola outbreak in Bangladesh
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Ranchi: Amid reports of an Ebola outbreak in Bangladesh that has allegedly claimed the lives of more than 500 children, the Jharkhand health department has placed the Santhal Pargana division on high alert and intensified surveillance in border regions.
According to officials, the state government has stepped up monitoring measures, especially in districts under the Santhal Pargana division, in response to concerns over the spread of infection from neighbouring areas.
Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari directed Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences and Sadar Hospital in Ranchi to remain fully prepared to handle any suspected Ebola cases. He said a review meeting had been conducted on the situation and hospitals were instructed to keep a number of beds vacant to ensure immediate treatment if required, TNIE reported.
Ansari also stated that a dedicated six-bed isolation ward had been set up and kept ready at RIMS for emergency response.
At the same time, the health department has launched a special awareness campaign on measles in the Santhal Pargana region and directed health officials to respond swiftly to any possible outbreak.
District immunisation officer Dr KK Singh reportedly said that following the rise in measles cases in Bangladesh, healthcare systems had been strengthened across the Santhal Pargana districts of Dumka, Deoghar, Godda, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur.
He said special vigilance was being maintained in border areas due to frequent cross-border movement of people. Singh added that authorities were working to reinforce surveillance in districts near the border. Sahibganj and Pakur, located close to the India-Bangladesh border, along with Deoghar — which sees heavy daily footfall — were receiving particular attention.
According to Singh, the health department was also planning to establish medical camps at bus stands, railway stations and the airport as a precautionary measure.
However, he clarified that no positive measles cases had so far been reported in Deoghar. Despite this, surveillance activities had been intensified and arrangements made to ensure immediate hospitalisation and treatment for anyone showing symptoms.