Govt To Set Up 24 Thermal Scanners To Prevent Ebola In India

To combat the deadly disease Ebola, the Health Ministry plans to set up 24 thermal scanners equipment at all the international airports in the country to check Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

“Presently, there are 18 scanners in the International airports and we are likely to increase up to 24 thermal scanner equipment at all international airports for checking all incoming passengers, especially those traveling from international destinations. More than 33,000 passengers have been screened till November 20,” said Dr. Arun Kumar Panda, additional secretary, ministry of health and family welfare at an ASSOCHAM event.

"We have two apex labs: National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), Delhi and National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. We are getting another 4 labs ready to scale up the capacity under National Centre for Diseases Control”, added Dr. Panda.

He pointed out that the government will install entry screening of passengers at the airport along with the exit screening of passengers from the badly-affected countries. “As part of precautions against the Ebola threat, the government is setting up more thermal scanners at all international airports to check Ebola from the affected countries,” stated Dr. Panda.

According to a report by Journal Lancet, India ranks amongst top 15 countries that could contract the Ebola virus from travellers from countries—such as Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone—that have been worst hit by the disease.

Representational Image: Indiatimes.com