A 28-year-old Ugandan woman isolated in Bengaluru over suspected Ebola symptoms has tested negative for the virus, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao confirmed on Wednesday, easing concerns amid heightened global surveillance over outbreaks in parts of Africa.
The woman, who had recently travelled from an Ebola-affected region, was shifted from a hotel to the state-run Epidemic Diseases Hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday after she developed mild symptoms such as body ache.
Her blood samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for testing.
"The suspected Ebola case reported in the state has tested negative following laboratory examination. Health authorities have confirmed that the individual is not infected with the Ebola virus," the state health minister said in a post on X.
"All required medical protocols and precautionary measures were strictly followed in accordance with established public health guidelines," he added.
Official sources said the woman was isolated as a precautionary measure and remains healthy.
“The individual is otherwise in a healthy condition now,” a source said.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is closely monitoring the evolving Ebola situation following recent outbreaks in parts of Africa. Officials said surveillance and screening measures continue across designated points of entry and the public health system in coordination with state authorities.
At present, no case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been confirmed in India, officials said.
"Citizens are advised not to panic, to follow prescribed health guidelines, and to rely only on official information and advisories issued by the government and health department," Rao added.
Officials also urged people to avoid spreading misinformation and rely only on official sources for updates.
Earlier, the woman was admitted to the Epidemic Diseases Hospital after developing mild symptoms following travel from Uganda. Health department officials had said her condition was stable and she was being closely monitored.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC) on May 17.
In response to Ebola outbreaks reported in several African countries, Karnataka had advised travellers returning from affected nations to undergo health monitoring and self-observation for 21 days after arrival. The state government also directed those developing symptoms to immediately report to the nearest health facility, while Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) were tasked with surveillance activities.
According to the WHO, Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, contaminated surfaces, or infected wild animals such as fruit bats and non-human primates.
India has also intensified screening and surveillance measures at airports and other entry points and advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
