Hong Kong activates Alert Response Level amidst Ebola outbreak in Congo
The Centre for Health Protection will strengthen health screening at the airport for passengers arriving on flights from Africa.
Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration that the epidemic of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the HKSAR Government has activated the Alert Response Level under its Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has rolled out a series of prevention and control measures to strictly guard against imported cases, including:
- Strengthening health screening for passengers arriving on flights from Africa at the airport. Port health officers will conduct temperature checks at the relevant flight gates and health screenings for passengers exhibiting symptoms. Suspected cases will be immediately referred to public hospitals for isolation and treatment until specimens test negative for the virus;
- Strengthening public awareness and health education efforts regarding Ebola disease at all boundary control points, including broadcasting announcements and posting posters to alert travellers;
- Providing the Airport Authority and local airlines with the latest information on the virus; and
- Sending letters to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong to alert them of the latest situation of Ebola disease.
The CHP stated that it has proactively sought further information from the WHO, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the health authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. It will also continue to closely monitor the latest developments overseas and the latest recommendations from the WHO, and will take appropriate measures based on risk assessments.
As of 16 May 2026, at least three areas in Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo had reported eight confirmed cases of Ebola disease, along with 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths. Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has also reported a laboratory confirmed case, involving an individual who had returned from Ituri Province. In neighbouring country Uganda, two confirmed cases were reported within 24 hours (one of them died). Both patients were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
According to the WHO’s notification, the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD), a strain of the Ebola virus genus. Currently, there are no specific therapeutics or vaccines for BVD.
While no confirmed cases of Ebola have ever been recorded in Hong Kong, the Government has set out the preparedness and response plan and adopted a three-tier response level. Three response levels, namely Alert, Serious, and Emergency, are based on the risk assessment of the Ebola disease and potential public health impact.
Ebola disease is a severe acute viral illness transmitted to humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals. Human-to-human transmission results from direct contact through broken skin or mucous membranes with the blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such body fluids.
According to information from the WHO, the case fatality rates from past Ebola outbreaks range between 25% and 90%, and the average is around 50%.
The CHP has urged the public to avoid visiting affected regions unless absolutely necessary. While travelling abroad, it is important to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. Recommended precautions include:
- Wash hands with liquid soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before touching the eyes, nose or mouth;
- Avoid close contact with people who have a fever or feel unwell, and avoid contact with patients’ blood or body fluids, as well as items that may have been exposed to such fluids;
- Avoid contact with animals, especially known animal reservoirs such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or porcupines; and
- Ensure food is thoroughly cooked before consumption.
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