American Citizens Services

Warden Message

U. S. Consulate General Hong Kong
May 5, 2009

This Warden Message alerts U.S. citizens to the latest information regarding human cases of 2009-H1N1 Influenza, sometimes referred to as swine flu.

Hong Kong has instituted procedures for border authorities to screen for the possibility of influenza among passengers on arriving international flights. Arriving travelers will be required to fill out and return a health declaration form and pass through a thermal-scanning checkpoint. Temperature readings are taken from fixed-position infrared monitors that do not make any contact with the traveler. Travelers found to have a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher, or who exhibit flu symptoms will have their travel history and symptoms assessed and will be taken to a hospital for further examination if necessary. Because of these measures, processing of arriving passengers may take longer than usual.

In addition, the Hong Kong government may impose a quarantine of up to seven days for any person who has come into close contact with persons with confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza.

If you are ordered into quarantine, please immediately contact the U.S. Consulate by calling our 24-hour emergency telephone number (852) 2523-9011, or by calling (852) 2841-2211, 2841-2323 or 2841-2225 during regular business hours.

The Consulate reminds U.S. citizens that most cases of influenza are not 2009-H1N1 Influenza. Any questions or concerns about influenza or other illnesses should be directed to a medical professional. Although the Consulate cannot provide medical advice or provide medical services to the public, a list of hospitals and doctors can be found on our website at http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/acs_medical.html.

For further information about the H1N1 situation in Hong Kong, please see the Hong Kong Government's Centre for Health Protection website at http://www.chp.gov.hk/index.asp?lang=en.

For further information about 2009-H1N1 Influenza, including steps you can take to stay healthy, please consult the Department of State information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_pandemic.html, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu, the U.S. Government pandemic influenza website at http://www.pandemicflu.gov, and the World Health Organization website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html. For additional travel safety information, please consult the State Department's website at http://travel.state.gov.

U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling (202) 501-4444 from other countries.

Americans living or traveling in Hong Kong or Macau are encouraged to register with the Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/ so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Hong Kong and Macau. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Consulate is located at 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong: 24-hour telephone number (852) 2523-9011; direct lines to American Citizen Services are (852) 2841-2211, 2841-2323, 2841-2225.

 

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Last modified: May 6, 2009