Congo Reopens Airport in Ebola Outbreak Zone

The DRC Ministry of Transport and Communications initially suspended all flights to and from Bunia Airport on May 27 to prevent cross-border transmission of the epidemic and protect passengers, crew, and airport personnel. The closure included exemptions for humanitarian and medical flights, though these required approval from both aviation and health ministries.

Local residents voiced concerns that the shutdown would severely impact the delivery of essential supplies during a critical time. Pascal Tudja, a Bunia-based economist, warned at the time of the closure that Bunia Airport serves as one of the DRC’s major border points with significant air traffic, and that road conditions in the region are virtually impassable, leaving air travel as the primary transport option.

In a statement issued late Monday evening, the transport ministry announced that conditions had improved sufficiently to permit a gradual and safe resumption of air operations. The ministry indicated that travelers should expect body temperature screenings at the airport, with anyone displaying a fever prohibited from boarding. Mandatory hand washing before boarding will also be enforced.

Conflicting Case Counts

The World Health Organization dramatically revised its count of suspected Ebola cases downward on Tuesday, reporting 321 confirmed infections, 116 suspected cases, 48 fatalities, and 6 recoveries. An additional nine confirmed cases and one death have been documented in neighboring Uganda.

This marks a sharp reduction from the 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths the W.H.O. reported on Friday. The Africa Centers for Disease Control had stated on Sunday that over 1,100 suspected cases remained under investigation.

W.H.O. spokesman Christian Lindmeier explained that hundreds of suspected cases have been cleared after investigation, with patients either suffering from other diseases or presenting only with fever. While fever is a prominent early indicator of Ebola infection, it is associated with numerous other conditions.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed that the DRC’s Ministry of Health has updated its total suspect case count to exclude cases ruled out after investigation, noting that the outbreak represents a rapidly evolving situation with case counts subject to change.

Warnings of Underreporting

The International Rescue Committee issued a warning Monday that the Ebola outbreak is likely substantially larger and more advanced than official numbers indicate. Response efforts are hampered by delayed detection and critically insufficient contact tracing, the organization stated.

The IRC suggested the virus may have circulated undetected since before March, potentially as long as three months before the first officially identified case, permitting multiple transmission chains to develop across communities and provinces.

The organization cited shortages of testing kits for the rare Bundibugyo strain, profound fear and mistrust in eastern Congo, and the deaths of at least six healthcare workers from Ebola infections as evidence the outbreak could exceed reported figures.

Rachel Howard, IRC Senior Technical Emergency Health Advisor, expressed alarm about inadequate contact tracing. When four out of five contacts are not being traced, she noted, containing the outbreak or understanding its true scope becomes extraordinarily difficult. The organization has voiced particular concern about potential spread to Burundi or South Sudan.

With information from Breitbart News