The Government today announced the activation of the Alert Response Level in accordance with the Preparedness & Response Plan for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

The activation followed the World Health Organization’s declaration of the EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The Government also considered the current epidemiological situation.

The Centre for Health Protection said it will issue letters to doctors and hospitals to inform them of the latest situation, and will also closely monitor overseas developments and WHO recommendations.

The plan sets out the Government’s preparedness and response strategy in case of an EVD outbreak.

It adopts a three-tier response level - Alert, Serious and Emergency - based on the risk assessment of the EVD that may affect Hong Kong and its health impact on the community.

As there is no registered vaccine for EVD in Hong Kong, people should avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas, and observe good personal and environmental hygiene during travel.

There has been no confirmed local EVD case to date.