Nepal Warned Over Weak Ebola Preparedness Amid Congo Outbreak

Nepal remains vulnerable to a potential Ebola outbreak as the country’s healthcare system is still poorly prepared to handle highly infectious diseases, health experts have warned.

The concern has grown after fresh Ebola infections were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where hundreds of Nepali peacekeepers are currently deployed under United Nations missions.

Despite the rising global concern, doctors and infectious disease specialists say Nepal still lacks the infrastructure, trained manpower, testing kits and isolation facilities needed to respond effectively if even a single Ebola patient enters the country.

Fear at Kathmandu Airport

Health experts recalled an incident from September 2015, when Ebola outbreaks were spreading across parts of Africa. A Nigerian national arrived in Nepal without a visa, triggering panic at Tribhuvan International Airport after infrared thermal cameras detected that he had a fever.

Former director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Dr Baburam Marasini, said the situation quickly turned chaotic.

“There was a kind of terror at the airport,” he recalled. “Even some police personnel became frightened and moved away.”

According to Marasini, armed police officers pointed guns at the man and warned him not to move. The individual later broke down in tears. Authorities eventually discovered that he had entered Nepal illegally and that his body temperature had risen mainly due to stress and panic. He was detained overnight and sent back on the same aircraft the following day.

New Ebola Strain Raises Alarm

Ebola is a highly infectious disease caused by the Orthoe bola virus commonly found in parts of Africa. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus can cause severe illness with fatality rates reaching as high as 80 to 90 percent.

Health authorities say a new strain of Ebola spreading in Congo and Uganda has raised fresh concerns globally. Reports indicate more than 900 infections and around 170 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak.

Nepal is considered vulnerable because of increasing international travel and the movement of migrant workers. In addition, more than 970 Nepali peacekeepers are currently stationed in Congo, including in Bunia of Ituri Province, which was considered one of the centres of the recent outbreak.

‘Nepal Not Ready for Even One Case’

Experts say Nepal is not prepared to manage even a single Ebola patient.

“Whatever the government claims, our healthcare system is weak and not ready to handle highly infectious diseases like Ebola,” said Dr Marasini.

He warned that if an infected patient entered major hospitals such as Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital or Patan Hospital, the consequences could be devastating because thousands of patients visit those facilities daily.

Doctors say Nepal still does not have a dedicated hospital specifically prepared for Ebola treatment. They also warn that airport screening alone is insufficient because infected travellers may not show symptoms during the incubation period while still carrying the virus.

“Infected individuals are not guaranteed to go directly to designated hospitals,” said infectious disease specialist Dr Prabhat Adhikari. “They may first visit local pharmacies or clinics that are completely unprepared for handling such diseases.”

Serious Gaps in Preparedness

Medical experts say Ebola spreads through bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, mucus and vomit. Waste materials from infected patients must be disinfected before entering sewage systems, but doctors say no hospitals in Nepal currently have such systems in place.

“We do not even have testing kits, vaccines or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola,” Dr Adhikari said. “Authorities are still not taking the issue seriously. The same negligence contributed to the spread of coronavirus.”

Experts say Nepal urgently needs quarantine and isolation centres located away from densely populated areas, along with specially equipped ambulances and trained drivers and security personnel.

Although officials claim airport health desks have been alerted, doctors say far more preparation is needed.

Former health officials noted that during the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak, Nepal had trained more than a thousand health workers, designated treatment centres and coordinated with security agencies. However, many of those preparations have not been maintained.

According to specialists, samples collected from suspected Ebola patients would need to be sent to advanced laboratories designated by the World Health Organization, but transporting infectious samples internationally is itself a major challenge because airlines are often reluctant to carry them.

Nepal Army Introduces Isolation Measures

Director of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Dr Anup Bastola, said health workers have received some training, including the use of personal protective equipment.

“Preparedness is necessary not only for Ebola but also for other deadly infectious diseases, because outbreaks can occur at any time,” he said.

Doctors say Ebola symptoms include fever, severe weakness, headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding from the nose or through vomiting blood.

Experts have urged the government to strengthen laboratory capacity, improve surveillance systems and provide specialised training to healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, the Nepal Army has announced mandatory 21-day isolation for peacekeepers returning from Congo.

Army spokesperson Rajaram Basnet said returning soldiers would not be allowed to meet family members immediately after arrival.

“We will keep all soldiers returning from Ebola-affected countries in mandatory isolation for 21 days,” he said. “The army is also coordinating with the Health Ministry and the United Nations to ensure the virus does not enter Nepal through returning personnel.”

According to Basnet, peacekeepers stationed in Congo have already been instructed to follow strict safety protocols, while the United Nations has also intensified precautionary measures.