The Sindh Health Department has intensified Ebola prevention protocols at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport in response to escalating global concerns over the deadly virus. A high-level emergency meeting, led by Special Secretary Health Fawad Ghaffar Soomro, evaluated the airport’s preparedness, focusing on surveillance, rapid response capabilities, and isolation ward readiness.
Present at the meeting were Health Sindh Director General Dr Waqar Memon, officials from the Sindh Health Department, Airport Security Force (ASF), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and other relevant authorities. This gathering followed the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak—a rare and severe epidemic, ranking as the third-largest on record—as a public health emergency of international concern.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on May 24 that over 900 suspected cases have emerged, with 101 confirmed infections. In a significant development, the Sindh Health Department resolved to enhance passenger monitoring systems at Karachi airport and ensure frontline staff rigorously apply preventive measures when managing suspected cases.
Additionally, the meeting emphasized maintaining 24-hour ambulance services for emergencies and setting up a dedicated storeroom for essential emergency supplies. Following these directives, awareness and training sessions were conducted for health professionals and other personnel at the airport, covering Ebola transmission, surveillance protocols, and infection prevention and control strategies.
Specialized training focused on safely handling suspected patients and executing contact tracing procedures. These initiatives align with the federal government’s broader efforts to strengthen screening measures at airports nationwide alongside other precautionary actions.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal instructed authorities on May 23 to enforce stringent screening protocols at all airports to curb the potential spread of Ebola. Travelers planning to visit African countries have been advised to consult relevant travel and health guidelines prior to departure.
Notably, the health ministry confirmed that Pakistan and its neighboring countries have never reported an Ebola case, highlighting the country’s low risk due to limited travel connections with the affected African regions.
