Hong Kong International Airport (Photo: Skytrax)

VTV.vn - Hong Kong authorities have stepped up health checks on all flights arriving from African transit hubs.

The health checks at Hong Kong's airport come as the special administrative region prepares to respond to an outbreak of an unknown disease that has killed at least 79 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Hong Kong Center for Health Protection said on December 5 that it had sought information about the outbreak from the World Health Organization, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Congolese health authorities.

The unidentified disease has caused 79 deaths and more than 300 infections since late October, according to health authorities in the Central African country. The patients, most of whom are over 15 years old, have experienced symptoms including fever, headache, runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing and anemia.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said local authorities have not received any reports of residents or visitors to Hong Kong (China) from Congo contracting the unspecified disease.

Although there are no direct flights between Congo and Hong Kong (China), visitors from the African country often travel to the Chinese special administrative region via African transit airports, especially Johannesburg in South Africa and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

"As a precautionary measure, the center has immediately stepped up health screening at the airport for passengers on all flights to Hong Kong from transit hubs."

Accordingly, visitors flying to Hong Kong (China) will have their body temperature checked. Airport medical staff will conduct medical assessments on those with symptoms and refer suspected cases to hospitals for testing.

The Center advises those planning to travel to Congo to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, avoid crowded places and contact with sick people.

Travelers returning to Hong Kong (China) will have their temperature checked. Airport health staff will conduct medical assessments for those who are advised to seek immediate medical attention if they feel unwell and inform their health care providers of their travel history.