Ebola outbreak: Hong Kong issues Red Outbound Travel Alert for Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The HKSAR Government has urged residents to avoid non-essential travel to the country amidst signs of the outbreak spreading.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has shown signs of spreading, prompting the HKSAR Government to issue a Red Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) and urge Hong Kong residents to avoid non-essential travel to the country.

Authorities noted that the outbreak has spread to cities in the country’s northern provinces, including Bunia and Goma, with a rising number of confirmed, suspected, and fatal cases. Furthermore, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus involved in this outbreak.

Local conflicts have also led to large-scale population movements, further increasing the risk of the virus spreading. The Department of Health (DH) has assessed the risk of local transmission spreading to other regions as very high, therefore issuing the Red OTA.

Despite these developments, the HKSAR Government emphasised that the risk of Ebola disease is primarily confined to outbreak areas. No confirmed Ebola cases have ever been recorded in Hong Kong, and the immediate public health impact locally remains low. Relevant government departments have nevertheless made the necessary preparations in case of occurrence of suspected or confirmed cases.

In response to the heightened risk, the HKSAR Government has implemented a series of measures to guard against imported cases and prevent the spread of the virus in Hong Kong:

• The DH has strengthened port health measures comprehensively, including health screenings for inbound travellers at all boundary control points. Staff have been deployed at arrival gates of the air-bridge to conduct temperature checks and health screenings for passengers disembarking from specific flights.
• The DH is also broadcasting announcements in the airport arrival hall and through airlines, urging passengers who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda within the past 21 days to proactively declare their travel history to the DH staff on site for further health assessment.
• The DH has sent another letter to all doctors in Hong Kong to remind them to remain highly vigilant. Any person who has travelled to affected areas (including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda) within the past 21 days and exhibits relevant symptoms must be managed as a suspected case and reported immediately to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) via the 24-hour hotline provided in the letter.
• The CHP's Infection Control Branch, in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Control Training Centre of the Hospital Authority (HA), will organise a seminar for healthcare professionals covering the latest Ebola outbreak developments, diagnosis, clinical management, and infection control measures to enhance their understanding of the disease and ability to respond effectively.
• The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) of the CHP has procured laboratory reagents to perform testing for all suspected cases of Ebola disease.
• Any suspected patient will be immediately transferred to the Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Centre (HAIDC) at Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation and treatment. The DH will be notified as soon as possible with specimens sent for further testing.
• The DH is working closely with the Outbreak Control and Response Team (OCRT) of the Fire Services Department to ensure readiness for collaboration in handling and transporting patients suspected of being infected with high consequence infectious diseases.
• The DH will follow established mechanisms to trace close contacts of confirmed or suspected cases. It has also inspected and ensured that the quarantine facilities at Penny's Bay are ready for use if necessary.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared the Ebola disease an epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Uganda, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. In response, the HKSAR Government activated the Alert Response Level in accordance with the Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease (the Response Plan) on 17 May 2026.

The CHP will continue to enhance risk communication and health education for the public via various online and offline channels. Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will continue to maintain close contact with the WHO, the Chinese Mainland, and other relevant health authorities, closely monitor the development of the Ebola disease outbreak, and adjust its prevention and control strategies as necessary.

Hong Kong residents currently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who need assistance may:

• call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department (ImmD): (852) 1868
• call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile Application
• send a message to the 1868 WhatsApp and 1868 WeChat assistance hotline
• submit an Online Assistance Request Form
• contact the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the consular protection hotline: (243) 851474669

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Photo / HKSAR Government Press Releases