New Delhi: Airlines flying people to India who have traveled to Ebola hot spots in Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, will now have to ensure that such passengers file a self-declaration form (SDF) before arrival. Thermal screening of passengers coming from hotspots will be done.Reminiscent of Covid times, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a protocol for airlines to prevent possible transmission of Ebola, which will now have to move symptomatic passengers to the rear of the aircraft. The three rows in front and behind those containing suspected cases will have to be kept vacant “as far as possible”.Airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, Akasa, Emirates and Qatar Airways, flying with passengers from the affected countries and having a suspected/symptomatic case on board will have to alert air traffic control so that the aircraft can be diverted to a separate bay. Suspected cases will be handed over to health teams. In-flight protocols require airlines to “designate a cabin crew member specifically to care for the symptomatic passenger… designate a separate washroom specifically for suspected case use. provide the sick passenger with a mask and personal protective equipment… ensure complete disinfection of the aircraft…”Meanwhile, Health Minister J.P. Nadda reviewed the preparations. He asked the officials of the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Center for Disease Control to continuously keep all arrangements for tracking, testing and monitoring ready.