DR Congo Reopens Bunia Airport Amid Ebola Concerns
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced on Monday that Bunia Airport, located in Ituri province—an area at the center of the Ebola outbreak—will be reopening.
Previously, flights to and from Bunia Airport were suspended on May 27. This decision was made as a “precautionary measure” aimed at preventing the spread of infectious diseases and ensuring the safety of passengers and airport staff.
Humanitarian and medical flights were allowed, but people in the community expressed concerns, noting that the airport closure would limit access to essential supplies when they were most needed. Economist Pascal Touja, based in Bunia, remarked on the significance of the airport, highlighting that many local residents rely on air travel due to poor road conditions.
In a statement released late Monday, just six days after the airport closure, the Department for Transport recognized improvements in the situation. They indicated it was now safe to resume air transport gradually.
The ministry has requested travelers to undergo temperature checks at the airport and advised anyone showing signs of fever not to board flights. Passengers are also required to wash their hands before boarding.
The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its figures on Tuesday, indicating 321 confirmed cases of Ebola, 116 suspected cases, and 48 deaths. Uganda reported additional cases and a death linked to the outbreak.
Earlier, the WHO had announced 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. Additionally, more than 1,100 suspected cases are currently being investigated, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC).
WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeyer noted that numerous suspected cases had been discounted after investigation, as many individuals either had other illnesses besides Ebola or only exhibited mild symptoms. Fever is a common early symptom, but it’s important to remember that other conditions can cause it.
The CDC has also updated its numbers, indicating that the count of suspected cases was revised down following this process. They warned that the Ebola outbreak represents a rapidly evolving situation, and such numbers are likely to change.
Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) raised alarms on Monday about the potential scale of the Ebola outbreak. They indicated it might be larger and more advanced than the official statistics suggest due to challenges in early detection and insufficient contact tracing.
They pointed out that the virus may have been circulating without detection prior to March and that multiple transmission chains could be established, complicating containment efforts. The IRC highlighted a shortage of testing kits, deep-seated fears in eastern Congo, and the deaths of health workers from the virus as factors that might indicate a broader outbreak.
Rachel Howard, the IRC’s senior technical emergency health advisor, emphasized the difficulties in managing the outbreak if a significant number of contacts are not traced, expressing concern about the virus potentially spreading to neighboring countries like Burundi and South Sudan.
