Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) issued an alert on the evening of 12 October 2026 ordering enhanced temperature checks and health declarations for passengers arriving from Russia. The measure follows confirmation that a laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute died from pneumonia of unknown origin earlier this month. Although the World Health Organization says there is no evidence of onward transmission, Hong Kong is doubling surveillance as a precaution. Under the new protocol, flights originating in or transiting through Russia must submit passenger manifests 24 hours in advance, and travellers will be channelled through dedicated lanes at Hong Kong International Airport for temperature scanning and symptom inquiry. Anyone displaying fever or respiratory symptoms will undergo on-site rapid PCR testing and may be sent to the North Lantau Hospital Infection Control Centre for isolation until results are returned. The CHP has also alerted public and private hospitals to heighten clinical vigilance for atypical pneumonia in patients with recent Russia travel history. Airlines say the directive affects three weekly Aeroflot flights from Moscow and twice-weekly Hong Kong Airlines charters from Vladivostok, impacting roughly 1 600 passengers a week. Corporate travel managers should expect slightly longer arrival processing times and remind staff to complete the digital health declaration before landing to avoid queues. Employers running rotation programmes with Russian oil-and-gas partners have been advised to stagger travel where possible. Public-health experts note that Hong Kong adopted similar targeted surveillance during outbreaks of MERS, Ebola and mpox, helping the city avoid local spread. While risk is currently low, companies should keep contingency plans ready in case testing extends to mandatory quarantine or flight adjustments. The CHP will review the measures in two weeks based on WHO updates.
Source: South China Morning Post
