Health authorities in Gujarat have placed a 37-year-old businessman from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and three of his contacts into strict isolation hospital wards in Ahmedabad. The move comes amid a heightened nationwide vigil after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the ongoing African Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Blood samples from the patient have been rushed to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for confirmatory testing.
Key Timeline of the Case
The patient’s travel history across western India has prompted immediate contact tracing and containment protocols by state health officials:
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May 18: The businessman arrives at Mumbai International Airport from the DRC and stays in Mumbai for five days.
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May 23–25: He travels to the Union Territories of Silvassa and Daman, staying there for four days.
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May 25: He reaches Vadodara, checking into a local hotel.
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May 26: After suffering from a high-grade fever, chills, and severe body aches for three days, he is initially admitted to a private hospital in Vadodara. Recognizing his travel history, authorities immediately transfer him to the dedicated Ebola isolation ward at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
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May 27: Health officials successfully trace three of his contacts—two travel companions and one local business contact. The companions are isolated at SVP Hospital, while the third contact is quarantined at a separate facility.
Current Health Status & Containment Measures
Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya has urged the public to remain calm, stressing that there is no confirmed case of Ebola in India at this time.
“The patient is currently stable, safe, and his temperature is under control. None of the isolated contacts are showing any symptoms. We are following standard safety protocols, and previous suspected cases in other states have all tested negative. There is absolutely no reason to panic.”
— Praful Pansheriya, Gujarat Health Minister
| Hospital | Facility Type | Status of Admitted Patients |
| Ahmedabad Civil Hospital | 32-Bed Apex Ebola Isolation Facility | 1 Patient (Symptomatic, Stable, under 10–11 day observation) |
| SVP Hospital, Ahmedabad | 60-Bed Quarantine Facility | 2 Patients (Asymptomatic travel companions, Isolated as a precaution) |
| Separate Facility (Ahmedabad) | General Quarantine | 1 Patient (Asymptomatic professional contact) |
The state health department has intensified screening protocols at Ahmedabad International Airport for all passengers arriving from high-risk countries, including the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan. Special isolation wards have also been prepped and activated at government hospitals in Surat to handle any further contingencies.
