Many countries raise alert over mysterious Congo epidemic

Recently, Hong Kong authorities health screenings for passengers and crew on all flights arriving from African hubs in response to an unspecified disease that has killed at least 143 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP), arriving passengers will have their temperatures taken. Medical staff will assess the health of those with symptoms and refer suspected cases to hospitals for testing.

CHP also advises people planning to visit Congo to maintain personal hygiene and avoid crowded places. Travelers returning to Hong Kong should seek medical attention immediately if they feel unwell and inform medical staff of their travel history.

On December 5, the CHP said it had requested information about the outbreak from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Congolese health authorities.

According to CHP, local authorities have not recorded any cases of residents or tourists from Congo arriving in Hong Kong with the strange disease. There are currently no direct flights between the two places. Tourists from Congo often travel to Hong Kong via connecting flights in Africa, especially Johannesburg in South Africa and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

Thailand followed Hong Kong’s lead on December 6, with the Ministry of Health advising vigilance over the outbreak. Opas Kankawinpong, permanent secretary of the ministry, said all health agencies were asked to closely monitor people’s movements and any updates on the disease, even though Thailand is considered a low-risk country.

The focus is mainly on all health checkpoints at border crossings and airports, as these are the front lines for people entering the kingdom, he added. Suvarnabhumi Airport has yet to announce any specific measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

In Italy, authorities have decided to step up airport checks on passengers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The health ministry said there was “no reason to alarm” the public about the outbreak of an unknown disease. The country is focusing on “active surveillance and continuous monitoring” with “due attention” but “without causing panic.”

Francesco Vaia, director general of prevention at the Italian Ministry of Health, said the country had immediately activated heightened vigilance procedures at ports and airports.

“Never underestimate, but never panic about the disease,” said Mr. Vaia.

Epidemiologist Roberto Burioni expressed concern about the disease, saying emerging viruses "move and mutate very quickly."

Meanwhile, infectious disease expert Matteo Bassetti said it could be a form of hemorrhagic fever, similar to Crimean-Congo or Ebola. He speculated from typical symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough and anemia.

Bassetti said the risk of the disease becoming a serious global pandemic was low. While some were concerned about the prospect of Covid-19 occurring exactly five years ago, he noted that “the connectivity between Congo and other countries is certainly not at the level of China.”

In Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recommends that people should not travel to areas affected by the epidemic if not necessary.

On December 12, the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health of Vietnam also said that it had received information about the epidemic in Congo and would monitor and proactively supervise in the coming time.

Since early December, Congo has recorded 143 deaths in Kwango province, with flu-like symptoms including high fever and severe headaches. Authorities have sent a medical team to the Panzi area to collect samples and conduct analysis to determine the cause of the disease.

According to the initial test results from the WHO investigation, out of 12 samples, 10 were positive for malaria. Other samples will be collected and tested to determine the exact cause.

Malaria is endemic in the region and the rainy season has brought an expected increase in respiratory diseases, said Dr Abdi Mahamud, WHO’s director of coordination of alerts and interim responses. Kinshasa, for example, is experiencing a resurgence of influenza and Covid-19.

Epidemiological data do not show a spike in cases or deaths. However, the high infant mortality rate points to many issues that need to be addressed in Panzi and other vulnerable areas.