Bengaluru Woman Suspected Of Ebola Infection Tests Negative; No Confirmed Case In India Amid Africa Outbreak

A 28-year-old woman from Uganda who was under observation in Bengaluru over suspected Ebola symptoms has tested negative for the virus, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare clarified that India currently has no confirmed case of Ebola virus disease, while adding that authorities remain on alert due to ongoing outbreaks reported in parts of Africa.

According to officials, the woman had travelled from Uganda to Ahmedabad before arriving in Bengaluru. After developing mild symptoms, including body ache, she was shifted from a hotel to a State-run hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday for isolation and evaluation.

Hospital authorities collected her blood samples and sent them to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune for Ebola testing.

Bengaluru District Surgeon and Medical Superintendent Anil Kumar Banagar said the initial report from NIV Pune came back negative.

"The National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, has communicated orally that the woman's blood report has come back negative. As per protocol, a repeat test should be conducted after 48 hours of observation. However, since the woman has not developed any additional symptoms so far, we are yet to take a decision on the retest. We are waiting for a call from higher authorities," Banagar said.

Officials said the woman continues to remain under observation as a precautionary measure in line with existing health protocols.

The Union Health Ministry said it is closely monitoring the global Ebola situation, especially outbreaks reported in African countries, and added that Central and State authorities are coordinating surveillance, hospital preparedness and laboratory testing measures.

Health officials stressed that all preventive and response measures are being implemented according to World Health Organization guidelines for Ebola virus disease.

The development comes days after the Indian government issued a travel advisory asking citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan due to Ebola outbreaks in the region.

Authorities have also urged people not to panic or circulate unverified messages regarding Ebola cases in India.

Officials said surveillance systems, contact tracing protocols, isolation procedures and infection control measures are currently active across relevant facilities as part of precautionary preparedness.

With the Bengaluru case testing negative and no confirmed Ebola infections reported in India so far, health agencies said the focus remains on preventive monitoring, international travel screening and coordinated response measures.