Hong Kong urged to trigger travel alert to DR Congo, Uganda amid Ebola outbreak
Infectious disease expert says more preventive measures necessary, noting frequent exchanges between mainland Chinese and central African cities
The society’s president, Dr Wilson Lam, also urged residents to avoid travel to the affected regions, while stressing there was no need for undue concern about a local outbreak.
Tsang stressed the need for Hong Kong to step up preventive measures, particularly at checkpoints, given the frequent business exchanges between some mainland Chinese cities and central Africa.
“There needs to be a clear travel health alert not to head to [the DR] Congo and the affected countries unless absolutely necessary,” Tsang told a radio programme, referring to the government’s three-tier outbound travel alert system that warns travellers of potential personal safety threats.
Signs should be displayed informing inbound visitors to Hong Kong about the outbreak – linked to the Bundibugyo virus – and notices telling them to report to authorities if they had any symptoms or interactions with potentially infected people from the affected countries, or with those who had travelled there, he added.