Patna: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Patna conducted an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) mock drill on May 31 to assess and strengthen its preparedness for managing highly infectious disease outbreaks.
The exercise was carried out under the guidance of Executive Director Prof. (Brig.) Dr. Raju Agrawal and in the presence of Medical Superintendent Prof. Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh, senior faculty members, hospital administrators, nursing officers and infection control experts.
Simulated Ebola Case Response
The drill simulated the arrival of a suspected Ebola patient at the hospital and tested the institution’s response mechanisms, including screening, isolation, sample collection, packaging and transportation.
According to AIIMS Patna, the simulated patient was identified during the screening process and transferred to a designated isolation area through a predefined route. Healthcare personnel followed infection prevention and control protocols, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and biosafety measures.
Multidisciplinary Participation
The exercise involved teams from the Departments of Emergency Medicine, General Medicine, Anaesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, Microbiology and Hospital Administration.
Nursing Services, Infection Control, Security, Sanitation and Ambulance Services also participated, reflecting a coordinated approach to handling infectious disease emergencies.
Focus On Sample Handling And Transport
A key component of the drill focused on the safe collection and triple-layer packaging of clinical samples in line with national guidelines.
The exercise also simulated documentation procedures and the transportation process for sending samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for confirmatory testing.
Officials Stress Importance Of Preparedness
Addressing participants after the exercise, Prof. (Brig.) Dr. Raju Agrawal said regular mock drills help strengthen institutional preparedness and support a rapid, coordinated response during public health emergencies.
Medical Superintendent Prof. Dr. Prashant Kumar Singh commended the participating teams and highlighted the importance of continuous training and adherence to standard operating procedures while managing high-risk infectious diseases.
Commitment To Public Health Safety
AIIMS Patna said the successful completion of the exercise reinforced its commitment to maintaining high standards of patient safety, infection control and emergency preparedness for public health challenges.
