New Delhi, Nov 19: In the first case of Ebola in the country, an Indian national returning from Liberia has tested positive for the deadly virus and has been quarantined at a special facility at Delhi airport.
The Health Ministry said the 26-year-old man, who reached here on 10 November, was already treated for the deadly disease in the African country and carried no symptoms but tests of his semen samples were positive, prompting authorities to put him under isolation.
This is the first confirmed case of Ebola, though the victim contracted the virus abroad and has already been treated.
"The situation is under control and there is no need for any alarm. However, all precautions are being taken in this regard," the ministry said in a statement.
It is a known fact, the ministry said, that during convalescence from Ebola, people continue to shed virus in body fluids for variable periods.
Health Minister JP Nadda said, "this case was that of a high risk patient. He had already undergone treatment. When he came to India, he was quarantined and kept in isolation and was under observation."
When tests were carried out, all of them turned out negative, he said, adding that the man did not display any symptoms of Ebola.
"Then we decided that body fluids must also be tested. After that was done, both the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Institute of Biologicals (NIB) reports came positive," he said.
"The situation is being closely monitored. We are cautious and there is no need to panic. The situation is under control," the minister said.
However, presence of virus in his semen samples may have the possibility of transmitting the disease through sexual route up to 90 days from time of clinical cure, it said.
He will remain under isolation in the special health facility of Delhi Airport Health Organization till his body fluids test negative and is found medically fit to be discharged, it said, insisting that the man is a treated and cured case of Ebola.
He had carried a certificate of medical clearance from the Liberian government, mentioning that "he has successfully undergone care and treatment related to Ebola and after post treatment assessment has been declared free of any clinical signs and symptoms and confirmed negative by laboratory analysis", the official statement said quoting the Liberian document.
His three blood samples tested here were also found negative for and, therefore, according to WHO and CDC specifications, he is deemed to be cured, it said.
However, the ministry added that the virus may continue to be positive in secretions like urine and semen for a longer time.
Liberia is one of the countries which have seen a number of Ebola cases.
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