India Launches Air Suvidha 2.0 for Ebola Screening at Entry Points

In a proactive measure to bolster public health safeguards against the recent Ebola outbreak, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation, in collaboration with Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), officially launched the Air Suvidha 2.0 portal on Thursday, June 25, 2026. This upgraded, contactless passenger health self-declaration system is designed to enhance health screening for international travelers arriving in India, particularly those from or transiting through Ebola-affected regions. The launch of Air Suvidha 2.0 comes in direct response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) declaration of the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026. Countries bordering the DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, have been identified as high-risk areas for potential transmission of the Bundibugyo virus disease, which is the confirmed strain of the current outbreak. The Air Suvidha 2.0 portal requires all international arriving passengers to submit a mandatory online health self-declaration form prior to immigration clearance. This form mandates travelers to provide details of their travel history for the preceding 21 days, any potential exposure history, and declaration of any related symptoms. Passengers are advised to complete this form up to 24 hours before their arrival in India, ideally before boarding their flight or during web check-in, to ensure a smoother and faster clearance process upon landing. This digital platform represents a significant upgrade from earlier paper-based health declaration processes, which had been reinstated for international arrivals around a month prior to address the Ebola concerns and had reportedly led to congestion and confusion at airports. The portal was developed in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, ensuring a comprehensive public health approach. A key feature of Air Suvidha 2.0 is its ability to enable real-time data sharing among crucial health and immigration agencies. Information submitted by passengers is automatically forwarded to the Airport Health Officer (APHO), the Bureau of Immigration, the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), and State Surveillance Officers. This integrated data-sharing mechanism facilitates the swift identification and referral of potentially at-risk travelers for further screening, testing, or necessary public health interventions, while simultaneously ensuring a contactless and efficient arrival experience without the need for physical forms. The Air Suvidha system itself is not new to India's public health strategy; it was initially introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic as a mandatory online health declaration system for international arrivals, primarily for contact tracing and health monitoring. Its reactivation and upgrade as '2.0' for the Ebola response highlights India's adaptive preparedness in managing infectious disease threats at its points of entry. Beyond the portal, India has demonstrated broader commitment to addressing the Ebola crisis. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda announced on June 17, 2026, that India pledged USD 10 million for Ebola preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in Africa. India has also delivered 45 tonnes of medical supplies to Africa and committed to further assistance, including medical, laboratory, diagnostic, medicine, and nutritional supplies, along with technical cooperation and support for strengthening health systems. Earlier, on May 21, 2026, the Union Health Ministry had issued a health advisory for passengers from Ebola-affected countries, urging those with symptoms or exposure history to report to airport health authorities. The government has proactively strengthened surveillance and preparedness measures across the country since the WHO's PHEIC declaration, emphasizing readiness at all levels and sharing detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with States and Union Territories covering pre-arrival and post-arrival screening, quarantine, case management, referral, and laboratory testing. This comprehensive strategy underscores India's dedication to safeguarding its population from imported health risks while contributing to global health security efforts.

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