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Ebola Threat in India, Government Rushes to Assuage Fear

By Peter R | Update Date: Nov 20, 2014 11:00 AM EST

The India government has been quick to dismiss the threat of Ebola after one man detected positive for the deadly virus in the country's capital.

A 26 year-old man who arrived from Liberia at New Delhi airport earlier this month, was found to have recovered from Ebola infection but contained traces of the virus in his semen. As a measure of precaution, the man has been isolated. The man was hospitalized in Liberia in September.

"Currently, this person is not having any symptoms of the disease. However, he would be kept under isolation in the special health facility of (the) Delhi Airport Health Organization, till such time his body fluids test negative and he is found medically fit to be discharged," Indian authorities said according to CNN.

The news of the virus on Indian soil sent alarm bells ringing, which the government sought to calm quickly. The Times of India reported that hospitals designated by the government for Ebola treatment do not have personnel protective equipment. Given the population of India, strict screening measures at airports are required to prevent an epidemic. Facilities like thermal scanners required for effective screening are not available at most Indian airports.

The health minister J P Nanda however maintained that the country's health infrastructure is well-prepared.

"Due to its extra caution, the Health Ministry tested body fluids of the man even after his blood tested negative for Ebola. I want to say the situation is under complete control. We have similar arrangements at 24 airports across the country," Nanada said according to The Hindu.

The Ebola outbreak which began early this year, has so far killed more than 5,400 people and has affecting more than twice the number of people. The virus moved out of West African, causing infections of healthcare workers in the US.  

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