Hong Kong ramps up health checks for travellers from Africa after Ebola outbreak

Move follows WHO declaring outbreak of deadly disease on continent a ‘public health emergency of international concern’

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The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of two countries affected by the latest Ebola outbreak. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:46pm, 17 May 2026Updated: 10:08pm, 17 May 2026

Hong Kong has stepped up health screenings for air passengers arriving from Africa as part of a contingency plan to guard against Ebola, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an outbreak of the deadly infectious disease on the continent a “public health emergency of international concern”.

Local health authorities also said on Sunday that they would strengthen public awareness and education, while stressing that the “immediate health impact of Ebola disease on the local population is currently low”.

Hong Kong had never recorded a case of Ebola, the Centre for Health Protection noted.

“Although no confirmed cases of Ebola have ever been recorded in Hong Kong, as an international city, Hong Kong has always remained vigilant in peacetime and stayed alert constantly,” it said.

“Hong Kong has fully prepared for epidemic prevention and control.”

It said it would strengthen health screening at the airport for passengers arriving on flights from Africa following the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda.

Hong Kong ramps up health checks for travellers from Africa after Ebola outbreak

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Move follows WHO declaring outbreak of deadly disease on continent a ‘public health emergency of international concern’

Move follows WHO declaring outbreak of deadly disease on continent a ‘public health emergency of international concern’