DR Congo Reopens Bunia Airport Amid Escalating Ebola Outbreak

DR Congo has reopened Bunia Airport with strict health measures despite Ebola cases rising to 321 and spreading across multiple regions.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has reopened Bunia Airport, the main gateway to Ituri Province, the region most affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak, reversing an earlier suspension that residents said had disrupted access to essential supplies and services.

Last month, authorities in Kinshasa halted passenger flights to Bunia after Ebola cases were confirmed in the province. However, humanitarian and medical flights were allowed to continue under special authorization.

In a statement released late Monday, the Ministry of Transport announced that conditions had improved enough to permit the gradual and safe resumption of air travel, with the airport reopening immediately.

To reduce the risk of transmission, officials said all travelers will undergo temperature screening before departure and upon arrival. Passengers must also wash their hands before boarding, while anyone showing signs of fever will be denied travel.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared the outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola on May 15, marking Congo’s 17th recorded Ebola outbreak. Shortly afterward, the World Health Organization classified it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Health experts say the outbreak went undetected for several weeks, making containment efforts more challenging. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted some positive developments in the response but emphasized the urgent need to expand testing, treatment services, and public confidence in health workers.

Government figures released on Monday show that confirmed Ebola cases have risen to 321, including 48 deaths. The virus has spread to 15 of Ituri’s 36 health zones and has also been detected in North Kivu, South Kivu, and neighboring Uganda.

Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee warned that the true scale of the outbreak could be significantly larger than official reports indicate, suggesting the virus may have been circulating for up to three months before the first confirmed cases were identified in mid-May.