A major summit planned to bring together India and African nations has been postponed due to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak an international public health emergency after 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths were reported so far.
In a joint statement issued by India and the African Union, officials said the summit was postponed because of the “evolving public health situation” on the continent, adding that a new date would be announced later.
The India-Africa Forum Summit, which had been scheduled to take place in New Delhi from May 28 to 31, was set to be held for the first time in more than a decade.
WHO Raises Alarm
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern.”
Experts say two major factors are making the current outbreak more dangerous. The first is that the outbreak involves a rare strain of Ebola for which no vaccine currently exists. The second is that the virus is spreading in conflict-affected regions.
Authorities stated that cases have so far only been detected within Africa, but warned that the risk is growing.
India Issues Travel Warning
No Ebola cases have been reported in India so far. However, India’s Directorate General of Health Services issued a health advisory for travelers arriving from Ebola-affected countries or transiting through them.
Officials advised anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or bleeding to seek medical attention within 21 days.
According to experts, Ebola can initially present with symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue. As the disease progresses, it may cause vomiting, diarrhea, organ failure, and in some cases internal and external bleeding. The virus spreads through contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected individuals.