Centre for Health Protection follows up on death from severe pneumonia of unknown cause in Russia and steps up port control measures

The Centre for Health Protection said it is closely following up on a death case of a laboratory worker with "severe pneumonia of unknown cause" in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, and assessed that the immediate risk to Hong Kong's public health is low. Citing information from Russian authorities, the World Health Organization said there is currently no evidence of sustained transmission, and no high-threat pathogens have been detected among the deceased's contacts. The centre will strengthen temperature monitoring at the airport for travellers arriving from Russia, and urges travellers who have visited the area in the past 14 days to declare proactively upon arrival in Hong Kong.