Jakarta – Hong Kong authorities have intensified health screening measures for all flights arriving from African transit hubs. This follows the risk of an unknown disease that has killed at least 79 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection said on Thursday (December 5, 2024) that it had requested information about the outbreak from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and Congolese health authorities. According to health authorities in the Central African country, the unknown disease has resulted in 79 deaths and more than 300 infections since late October.
Infected patients experience symptoms including fever, headache, runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing, and anemia.
The Center for Health Protection stated that the local government has not yet received reports of individuals or travelers arriving in Hong Kong from that country with the mysterious illness.
Although there are no direct flights between the DRC and Hong Kong, travelers from the country usually reach Hong Kong via African transit hubs, particularly Johannesburg in South Africa and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.As a precautionary measure, [the center] immediately increased health screenings at the airport for passengers on all flights arriving in Hong Kong from transit hubs.
Travelers will undergo temperature checks, with health officials conducting medical assessments for those showing symptoms and referring suspected cases to hospitals for examination.
Not only that, those who plan to visit Congo should always maintain personal and environmental hygiene and avoid crowded places and contact with sick people.
Travelers returning to Hong Kong are advised to seek medical attention immediately if they feel unwell and to inform healthcare providers about their travel history.
Hong Kong Tightens Entry Points After Mysterious Disease Emerges in Congo
