Congo re-opens airport at centre of Ebola outbreak

KINSHASA — The Democratic Republic of Congo has reopened the airport in the capital city of the province hit hardest by the ongoing Ebola outbreak, according to a government statement. The decision reverses a previous move that residents argued had cut them off from critical supplies.

The government in Kinshasa announced last month that it was suspending passenger flights to Bunia, the main airport in Ituri province, where the first Ebola cases were confirmed. Humanitarian and medical flights had continued, subject to strict approvals.

In a statement published late Monday, Congo’s Ministry of Transport said conditions were finally in place "to allow a gradual and safe resumption of air transport activities," declaring that the airport would reopen immediately.

New Safety Protocols Implemented

To prevent further transmission of the virus, the ministry outlined several mandatory health measures for air travel:

Temperature Screenings: All passengers will have their body temperatures checked both before boarding and upon arrival.

Hygiene Mandates: Passengers are required to wash their hands before boarding the aircraft.

Boarding Restrictions: Any passenger presenting with a fever will be strictly barred from boarding.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this specific outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola—Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak—on May 15. The World Health Organization (WHO) swiftly declared it a public health emergency of international concern.

Health officials note that the outbreak, which is already the third-largest on record, persisted for weeks undetected. Consequently, response teams are currently behind the curve and struggling to bring the situation under control.

Confirmed Cases Rise to 321

The decision to reopen the airport in Bunia followed a visit from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. On Monday, Tedros told reporters that he saw encouraging signs in the containment response, including five certified recoveries. However, he emphasized the urgent need to ramp up testing, expand treatment capacity, and build community trust in health workers.

Current Situation by the Numbers:

321 confirmed Ebola cases

48 confirmed deaths

15 of 36 health zones affected in Ituri province

Cases have also been reported in the North and South Kivu provinces, as well as in neighboring Uganda.

Warnings of Undetected Spread

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned on Monday that the outbreak is likely significantly larger and more advanced than official figures suggest.

According to the aid agency, the virus may have been spreading silently for up to three months before the first official cases were detected in mid-May, complicating efforts to map out transmission chains.

-Reporting by Ange Adihe Kasongo; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Kate Mayberry/Reuters