WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency
Amid growing concerns over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, the BMC Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has issued an advisory to resident doctors working across Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hospitals in Mumbai. The advisory urges healthcare workers to remain vigilant, prepared, and strictly follow infection control protocols.
The advisory, issued on May 27, 2026, comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in certain regions a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). According to health authorities, the current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and is mainly restricted to Congo and neighbouring Uganda.
At present, there are no reported Ebola cases or community transmission in India.
Centre Reviews Ebola Preparedness in India
Earlier, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda reviewed India’s preparedness and surveillance measures in response to the evolving Ebola situation in Africa. The Centre has intensified monitoring and preparedness efforts across the country to prevent any possible imported infections.
BMC MARD, in its advisory, appealed to resident doctors across Mumbai hospitals to cooperate with hospital administrations and public health authorities. The association stressed the need to strictly follow infection control protocols, surveillance measures, and preparedness guidelines issued by health authorities from time to time.
BMC MARD Calls for Vigilance Without Panic
Speaking on the advisory, Dr Amar Agame, General Secretary of BMC MARD, said that resident doctors remain committed to patient care and public health service.
“As frontline healthcare workers, resident doctors have always stood committed towards patient care and public health service. Through this advisory, BMC MARD aims to promote awareness, preparedness and responsible healthcare practices while avoiding unnecessary panic. We remain fully committed to cooperating with hospital administration and public health authorities in the larger interest of patient welfare,” he said.
Ebola Symptoms Doctors Asked to Watch For
The advisory highlighted that Ebola infection usually begins with non-specific symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Weakness
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Sore throat
As the disease progresses, patients may develop severe complications including:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Bleeding manifestations
- Shock
- Multiorgan failure
Why the Current Ebola Outbreak is Concerning
According to the advisory, the current Ebola outbreak poses serious global public health concerns due to multiple factors:
- No licensed vaccine or specific treatment is currently available for the Bundibugyo strain
- Population movement may complicate contact tracing efforts
- Ebola has a high fatality rate depending on outbreak severity
- Diagnostic facilities remain limited in affected regions
How Ebola Spreads
The advisory clarified that Ebola primarily spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.
Modes of transmission include:
- Direct contact with blood, body fluids, vomitus, or secretions of an infected person
- Contact with contaminated surfaces or materials
- Unsafe caregiving or burial practices involving infected individuals
Health authorities also clarified that Ebola is not airborne in normal community settings, unlike highly transmissible respiratory infections such as COVID-19.
Preventive Measures for Healthcare Workers
Resident doctors and healthcare workers have been advised to strictly follow infection prevention and control measures, including:
- Proper hand hygiene
- Universal precautions
- Safe biomedical waste disposal
- Adherence to institutional infection control guidelines
The advisory further stressed the importance of preparedness while avoiding unnecessary fear or panic among the public.
