Hong Kong airport steps up health screenings for arrivals amidst unknown disease in Congo

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Port health staff have been arranged to carry out temperature checks for travellers from African transit hubs, including Johannesburg in South Africa and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

In light of a cluster of infections of a temporarily unknown disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of Hong Kong’s Department of Health (DH) has immediately stepped up health screenings at the airport for passengers on all flights arriving in the city from African transit hubs.

The CHP said, according to the information announced by the DRC health authorities, a disease of still unknown cause has been recorded in a district in Kwango province since late October. The unknown disease has so far caused 79 deaths and more than 300 infected. Most of the patients were aged above 15 and suffered from fever, headache, runny nose, cough, breathing difficulty, and anaemia.

The DH has not received any infection reports of people or travellers arriving in Hong Kong from the DRC. Currently, there are no direct flights between the DRC and Hong Kong. Travellers may generally choose transit hubs in Africa to Hong Kong, including Johannesburg in South Africa and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

As such, as a precautionary measure, port health staff have been arranged at the relevant flight gates to carry out temperature checks for travellers arriving in Hong Kong from the above-mentioned transit hubs, conduct medical assessments for symptomatic travellers, and refer suspected cases of infections with public health significance to hospitals for medical examination.

A spokesperson for the CHP reminded members of the public who plan to go to the DRC to be vigilant, pay attention to personal and environmental hygiene at all times, and avoid visiting crowded places as well as contact with sick persons. Those who feel unwell upon returning to Hong Kong should seek medical treatment as soon as possible and take the initiative to inform their doctors of their relevant travel history.

The DH said it will continue to closely monitor the situation in the DRC and the related information from the World Health Organization, and take appropriate preventive and control measures based on risk assessment.