Hyderabad’s Health Minister, Damodar Raja Narasimha, has taken a strict stance against travelers from Ebola-affected countries who are giving inaccurate addresses in the city. He has instructed that legal action be taken against such individuals under the Epidemic Diseases Act. The Minister emphasized the importance of accurate information, warning that providing false details could result in serious consequences, including legal repercussions.
In response to reports of travelers not staying at the addresses they provided, the Minister has directed officials to ensure that travelers arriving from Ebola-affected nations provide correct details, including addresses and contact numbers. He stressed the need for transparency and honesty in providing information, instructing officials to handle any instances of misinformation or concealment with utmost seriousness.
To effectively communicate with foreign travelers, the Minister has proposed enlisting the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) to assist. He suggested having staff proficient in languages like French, Arabic, and Swahili, commonly spoken in Ebola-affected countries, available at the airport round the clock in three shifts. This move aims to enhance monitoring and information-gathering processes for better management.
The Minister’s directive also includes strengthening surveillance and precautionary measures in response to the Ebola outbreak in certain African countries. Special attention is being given to travelers arriving from affected regions, with enhanced screening and surveillance systems in place at Shamshabad Airport. Suspected cases are promptly isolated at Gandhi Hospital for monitoring and testing.
