In light of the recent outbreak of Ebola disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda in Africa, the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD) under the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health convened a meeting today (May 27), to review the latest epidemiological situation, recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and international health authorities, scientific information on the prevention and control of Ebola disease, and relevant prevention and control strategies in Hong Kong. The SCEZD noted that the Government has already implemented a comprehensive series of preventive measures to guard against the importation of Ebola disease into Hong Kong.
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     Following the meeting, the SCEZD released a consensus statement, which provides a risk assessment of the situation in Hong Kong and recommends that the Government continues to implement various current measures to mitigate the risk of imported Ebola disease cases and prevent potential local transmission.
      
Risk assessment
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     The WHO declared the Ebola disease epidemic in the DRC and Uganda caused by the Bundibugyo virus (one of the viruses of the Ebola virus genus) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on May 17, 2026. 
      
     This is the 17th Ebola disease outbreak in the DRC since 1976. As of May 24, 2026, the DRC has reported 105 confirmed cases and 10 confirmed deaths (confirmed case-fatality rate of around 10 per cent), as well as 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths (suspected case-fatality rate of around 25 per cent). Uganda has also reported seven confirmed cases, including one confirmed death.
      
     The WHO assessed the public health risk as "very high" in the DRC, "high" at the regional level and "low" at the global level. Currently, no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment has been developed for Bundibugyo virus. Prevention and control of Bundibugyo virus therefore primarily relies on non-pharmaceutical public health measures such as case identification, isolation, contact tracing, and infection prevention and control.
      
     In Hong Kong, Ebola disease is a statutorily notifiable disease under viral haemorrhagic fever. No suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola disease have been recorded in Hong Kong so far. There are currently no direct flights between the DRC or Uganda and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong has sufficient laboratory testing, isolation and treatment capacity for the rapid diagnosis, isolation and treatment of suspected cases. At present, the risk of Ebola disease is primarily confined to outbreak areas in the DRC and the immediate public health impact on Hong Kong remains low.
      
Recommended measures
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     The SCEZD recommended the following ongoing preventive and control measures, which the Government has already implemented:
 

• Enhanced surveillance: Close monitoring of the latest developments in the event of an ongoing Ebola disease outbreak, including maintaining close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities, as well as liaison with the Chinese Mainland health authorities through the joint prevention and control mechanism. Information on the latest Ebola disease situation and updated reporting criteria should continue to be disseminated to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong. Healthcare professionals should continue to maintain a high level of vigilance for patients presenting with clinically compatible symptoms with Ebola and who have a recent travel history to affected areas.

 

• Case investigation and control measures: Prompt epidemiological investigation and contact tracing should be conducted upon notification of suspected Ebola disease cases. Suspected or confirmed cases should be immediately transferred to a public hospital for isolation and treatment, and kept in isolation until the specimens collected test negative for the virus.

 

• Quarantine facilities: Operational readiness of quarantine facilities should continue to be maintained for immediate deployment if required. Established protocols for contact tracing and quarantine arrangements are already ready for activation upon laboratory confirmation of an Ebola disease case.

 

• Port health measures and travel advice: Temperature checks and health screenings for passengers who have visited the DRC or Uganda within the past 21 days should continue. Active medical surveillance for these passengers during their stay in Hong Kong should also continue to be conducted. Members of the public are advised to avoid non-essential travel to the affected areas. Publicity on Ebola disease for travellers and communication with stakeholders of boundary control points should continue to be strengthened.

 

• Laboratory diagnosis: Adequate laboratory capacity to perform testing for all suspected cases of Ebola disease should continue to be ensured.

 

• Prevention of nosocomial transmission: Healthcare professionals should continue to comply with the latest infection control guidelines for the prevention of Ebola disease. Regular training and drills on Ebola infection control practices should continue to be held in hospitals with acute services.

 

• Risk communication and community engagement: Public health education and risk communication through various channels should continue to be enhanced. Liaison with relevant non-governmental organisations to convey targeted health information and distribute health promotional materials to relevant communities and venues should be strengthened.

 
     The SCEZD affirmed that the Government's multipronged approach has been effective in minimising the risk of importation of Ebola disease cases to date. Sustained implementation of these preventive and control measures is crucial for minimising importation, early detection of cases and control in case of importation.
      
     The consensus statement of the SCEZD has been uploaded to the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/static/24005.html).

Ends/Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:31

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