Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar launched an Ebola surveillance system on May 23, 2024, featuring mandatory thermal screening for international passengers [1, 2].
The move comes as health authorities seek to prevent the domestic transmission of the virus after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak a global health emergency [3, 4].
Airport authorities in Odisha established the system to strengthen health screening and monitoring for all travelers arriving from overseas [1, 2]. The surveillance protocols are designed to identify symptomatic passengers immediately upon arrival, ensuring that potential cases are isolated and managed according to public health guidelines [1, 3].
This heightened state of alert follows reports that the Ebola epidemic threatens 10 African countries [5]. By implementing these measures, the airport aims to create a critical barrier against the entry of the virus into India [3, 4].
The thermal screening process is now a mandatory requirement for all international arrivals at the facility [2]. Authorities said the system will remain in place to monitor the health status of passengers and provide an early warning system for the regional health department [1, 3].
Officials are coordinating with national health agencies to ensure that any passenger flagged by the thermal scanners is routed to a designated medical facility for further testing [2, 4]. This integrated approach is intended to minimize the risk of community spread within the state of Odisha [1].
“Biju Patnaik International Airport launched an Ebola surveillance system on May 23, 2024.”
The implementation of mandatory screening at a regional international gateway indicates a proactive shift in India's border health security. By anchoring surveillance to the WHO's global health emergency declaration, authorities are prioritizing early detection to avoid the logistical and medical strain of a domestic Ebola outbreak.
