Hong Kong has sufficient measures for Ebola: official

Hong Kong has sufficient preventive measures against the Ebola virus that comply with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, said Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) on Tuesday.

Briefing the media after Tuesday's Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases meeting, CHP Controller Dr. Leung Ting-hung said the government is monitoring the availability of safe and effective vaccines and antivirals for Ebola.

To prevent and control the virus, the committee recommended early identification of suspected cases at boundary control points, intensive surveillance, stringent infection control by healthcare professionals, maintaining close liaison with the WHO, and enhancing health education for travelers and the public.

Committee chairman Yuen Kwok-yung said while Hong Kong has sufficient preventive measures against Ebola, it may still be difficult to prevent imported cases, which may expose health professionals to the virus.

Vaccines and medicines still under research and in development cannot yet be imported to Hong Kong, he said.