Hong Kong Enhances Ebola Preparedness Amid WHO Emergency Declaration for Congo and Uganda Outbreaks

CHP continues to closely monitor Ebola outbreak in Africa and is vigilant in guarding against imported cases

In response to the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) is continuing to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease (the Response Plan). These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. While the immediate health impact of Ebola disease on the public health in Hong Kong is currently low, the CHP is fully prepared to respond to an outbreak should one occur. Members of the public are advised to avoid visiting affected regions unless absolutely necessary.

Latest information from WHO

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According to the latest report from the WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, as of May 18, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported eight confirmed cases of Ebola disease, 395 suspected cases and 106 related deaths. Uganda has also reported two cases of Ebola disease and one related death.

Port health measures

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The CHP conducts health screenings for arrivals at all boundary control points. Although there are no direct flights between Hong Kong and the countries affected by the outbreak, travellers may transit via Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, en route to Hong Kong from Africa. Therefore, the CHP has immediately strengthened health screenings for passengers arriving on flights from Addis Ababa. Port Health Division officers conduct temperature checks and health screenings for passengers from these specific flights at the arrival gate of the air-bridge.

At the same time, notices have been posted in the airport's arrival area. The CHP has co-ordinated with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) to broadcast announcements in the arrival hall. The CHP is also urging, through relevant airlines, passengers who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda within the past 21 days to proactively declare their travel history to the Port Health Division officers upon arrival in Hong Kong for further health assessment. Regarding the isolation and referral mechanism for suspected cases, if an inbound traveller exhibits relevant symptoms and is assessed as a suspected case by the Port Health Division officers, arrangements will be made immediately to transfer the individual to the Hospital Authority (HA) Infectious Disease Centre for isolation and examination. The individual will remain in isolation until the specimens test negative for the virus.

The CHP has also provided the AAHK and airlines with the latest information on the virus and urged airlines to remind their flight crews to strictly enforce established prevention and control measures if they identify suspected cases on their flights. Furthermore, the CHP has stepped up its publicity efforts at all boundary control points, including making public announcements and displaying posters, to remind travellers to be vigilant about Ebola.

Disease surveillance

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The CHP has sent a letter to all doctors and hospitals in Hong Kong to remind them of the latest situation of Ebola disease and to update the reporting criteria for suspected cases based on the latest epidemic information. Any person who has travelled to affected areas (including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda) within the past 21 days and exhibits relevant symptoms must be managed as a suspected case. The CHP urged doctors to remain highly vigilant and to immediately report any suspected cases to the CHP via the 24-hour hotline provided in the letter.

As of today, no confirmed or suspected Ebola disease cases have been recorded in Hong Kong.

In addition, the CHP convened a meeting yesterday (May 18) with representatives from the HA Head Office, Chief Infection Control Officer Office, and the HA's experts in infectious disease and clinical microbiology, to discuss various issues thoroughly, including the isolation and testing of suspected cases, infection control measures and quarantine arrangements for close contacts.

Quarantine facilities

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The CHP has also inspected the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility, which has been placed on standby mode, to ensure that it is ready for use as a quarantine facility should the need arise. Should a case be laboratory-confirmed as Ebola disease, the CHP will follow established protocols to trace contacts and arrange for their quarantine.

Public education

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The CHP will continue to enhance risk communication and health education for the public via various online and offline channels, including press releases, social media posts and media interviews. In addition, the CHP will meet with African non-governmental organisations (NGOs) tomorrow (May 20) to convey relevant health information to Africans living in Hong Kong via these NGOs. The CHP has also distributed health promotional materials at venues in Tsim Sha Tsui, where relatively more Africans stay.

The HKSAR Government announced on May 17 the activation of the Alert Response Level in accordance with the Response Plan to safeguard public health. Relevant government departments are fully prepared and will closely monitor the development of the epidemic, adjusting prevention and control strategies as necessary.

As the current risk of infection is primarily concentrated in affected areas overseas, the CHP urged members of the public to exercise caution and avoid non-essential travel to affected countries and regions. Relevant travel advice has been uploaded to the Security Bureau's Outbound Travel Alerts webpage. The CHP will continue to closely monitor the latest overseas developments and the latest recommendations from the WHO, taking appropriate follow-up actions and implementing prevention and control measures based on risk assessments to safeguard public health.

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows CHP staff distributing health promotional materials in Tsim Sha Tsui, which has a large African population. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows CHP staff distributing health promotional materials in Tsim Sha Tsui, which has a large African population. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows the Head of the Emergency Response and Programme Management Branch of the CHP, Dr Leung Yiu-hong (left), and the Chief Staff Officer of the Civil Aid Service, Mr Leung Kwun-hong (right), inspecting the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility, which has been put into standby mode to ensure that it is ready for use as a quarantine facility should the need arise. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows the Head of the Emergency Response and Programme Management Branch of the CHP, Dr Leung Yiu-hong (right), and the Chief Staff Officer of the Civil Aid Service, Mr Leung Kwun-hong (left), inspecting the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility, which has been placed on standby mode to ensure it is ready for use as a quarantine facility should the need arise. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows CHP notices at the airport’s arrival area, urging travellers who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda within the past 21 days to proactively report to CHP’s Port Health Division officers upon arrival in Hong Kong so that further health assessments can be conducted. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows CHP staff conducting health screenings for passengers arriving on flights from Africa. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows the Head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the CHP, Dr Albert Au (centre), distributing health promotional materials to passengers arriving on a flight from Africa at the airport. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

In response to the World Health Organization recently declaring that the Ebola disease epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 19) continues to collaborate closely with various stakeholders to implement a series of prevention and control measures, in accordance with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease. These measures are intended to guard against imported cases and safeguard public health. Photo shows the Head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the CHP, Dr Albert Au (first left), inspecting CHP staff who are conducting enhanced health screenings for passengers arriving on flights from Africa. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (June 7) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

Source: AI-found images