Uganda national in Bengaluru tests negative for Ebola; no confirmed case in India: Health Ministry

A Uganda national with recent travel history from the East African nation has tested negative for Ebola virus after she was placed under isolation “as a matter of abundant caution” in Bengaluru, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday (May 27, 2026).

There is no confirmed case of Ebola virus disease in India, the Ministry added.

A 28-year-old woman, who developed mild symptoms including body ache, was shifted from a hotel to the State-run hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday (May 26, 2026). Officials said she had recently travelled from Uganda to Ahmedabad and had later arrived in Bengaluru.

A sample was collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for testing, and the result has returned negative for Ebola virus disease (EVD), they said.

“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 the woman has not developed any additional symptoms so far, we are yet to take a decision on the retest. We are waiitng for a call from highter authorities,” said Anil Kumar Banagar, Bengaluru District Surgeon and Medical Superintendent of the State-run hospital.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is closely monitoring the evolving Ebola situation following recent outbreaks reported in parts of Africa.

In coordination with the concerned State authorities, close surveillance and all necessary public health protocols are being followed in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, officials said.

Citizens are advised not to panic, avoid spreading misinformation and to rely only on official sources for information, they said.

The Indian government on Saturday (May 23, 2026) also issued a travel advisory urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel to o the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan after the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in central Africa a “global public health emergency”.

With inputs from PTI