Ebola watch: Government defers Africa & big cat summits, alerts airports

📌 Summary:

• The WHO has declared the new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda "a public health emergency of international concern" (PHEIC).

• India on Thursday issued a travel advisory for passengers from "high-risk countries" — the DRC, Uganda and South Sudan — entering Indian ports and airports, seeking their cooperation with health screening.

• Travellers showing symptoms (fever, weakness/fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, unexplained bleeding, sore throat) must report to the airport health officer before immigration clearance; anyone developing symptoms within 21 days of arrival must seek medical care and disclose their travel history.

• India postponed the Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV), which was slated for May 28-31 in New Delhi with the African Union Commission; a joint India-AU statement said new dates will be fixed through mutual consultation.

• The first International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, scheduled for June 1-2 in New Delhi alongside IAFS-IV, has also been postponed to ensure broad participation, including from African range countries.

• India reaffirmed solidarity with Africa and readiness to support Africa CDC-led response efforts; there is no Ebola case in India as of date and the measures are precautionary.

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (health governance, India-Africa relations) and GS3 (disaster/epidemic preparedness) — covers public health emergency response, the International Health Regulations, and the diplomatic fallout of an outbreak.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Ebola virus disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of infected persons; the current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain.

• A PHEIC is declared by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005).

• The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) is the apex platform for India-Africa engagement; the International Big Cat Alliance, headquartered in India, is a multi-country body for the conservation of seven big cat species.

🔑 Key Term: PHEIC — Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the WHO's highest level of alarm for a disease outbreak.