Hong Kong issues red travel alert for DR Congo as deadly Ebola outbreak spreads
139 suspected deaths and 600 suspected cases have been recorded in DR Congo and Uganda, with numbers expected to rise
The red alert – the middle level in a three-tier outbound travel alert system under the Security Bureau – means residents travelling to the country should adjust their plans and avoid non-essential travel due to the significant threat there.
Acting on advice from health authorities, the bureau will issue alerts for countries or territories seriously affected by infectious diseases to help the public better understand potential health risks.
The Hong Kong government said that the issuance of the red outbound travel alert for the DR Congo was due to a relatively high risk of outward transmission from the locality.
City authorities also cited the spread of the epidemic across the country’s northern provinces and the rising numbers of suspected and confirmed cases, as well as fatalities.