Amid rising global concerns over the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa, Chhattisgarh health authorities have launched passenger screening at Raipur's Swami Vivekananda Airport, with travel history checks now mandatory.

Chhattisgarh on High Alert as Ebola Fears Prompt Airport Screening in Raipur

Screening Kicks Off at Raipur Airport

 The Chhattisgarh health department moved into alert mode this week as global anxiety over the Ebola virus continues to mount. Dedicated screening counters have been set up at Swami Vivekananda Airport in the state capital, where passengers arriving from other states and international destinations are being subjected to health checks and detailed travel history scrutiny. The measures, officials said, are precautionary but taken with urgency.

Thermal scanning has been made mandatory for all incoming passengers. Anyone showing symptoms consistent with Ebola — including high fever, fatigue, or unexplained bleeding — is to be immediately isolated and referred for medical attention. A nodal officer has been appointed specifically to oversee operations at the airport and coordinate between health teams on the ground.

Why the Sudden Push

The trigger, as with many such alerts in India, came from abroad. The World Health Organisation raised concerns in recent weeks over a fresh surge of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The disease, known for its high fatality rate when left untreated, has sporadically re-emerged in central Africa over the past decade, and each resurgence tends to prompt global health systems to tighten their borders.

India, which sees substantial air traffic from African nations, has moved proactively. While no Ebola case has been detected on Indian soil so far, central and state authorities appear determined not to be caught off-guard.

Centre's Directive Filters Down

Union Health Minister JP Nadda recently confirmed that airports, seaports, and land border checkpoints across the country have stepped up surveillance in response to the WHO advisory. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other key agencies have been directed to stay on standby for testing and rapid response should any suspected case emerge.

According to officials, the instructions from the Centre were clear — heightened monitoring must be in place before any case is detected, not after. Chhattisgarh's health department appears to be moving in line with that directive.

Ground Reality in Raipur

At Swami Vivekananda Airport Thursday morning, health personnel were stationed at arrival areas, checking passengers and noting travel histories, particularly of those returning from Africa or transiting through high-risk regions. Sources familiar with the deployment said the exercise is being treated as a live drill as much as a genuine precaution.

No passenger has been flagged or isolated so far, officials confirmed. But the infrastructure is in place — isolation arrangements, a trained response team, and a reporting chain back to the state health headquarters in Raipur.

No Cause for Panic, Officials Stress

Health officials were careful to temper the alert with reassurance. "There is no confirmed case in India, and certainly none in Chhattisgarh," a senior state health department official said. "These are standard precautionary protocols that get activated when WHO flags a global health concern."

Still, the speed with which the state moved — counters operational, a nodal officer in place, thermal scanners deployed — suggests authorities are not taking the situation lightly.

What Comes Next

The screening regime is expected to remain in place until WHO downscales its advisory or the outbreak in Africa is brought under control. State health authorities are also believed to be coordinating with district hospitals to ensure isolation wards are functional and adequately stocked.

Initial reports indicate that similar measures are being activated at airports and border checkpoints across several Indian states, with the Centre reviewing the situation on a near-daily basis.