The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has suspended all commercial, private, and special flights to Bunia—a city in Ituri Province near the Uganda border—as part of efforts to contain an Ebola outbreak. However, despite this measure, the virus continues to spread rapidly across the region.
Health authorities report that cases have surged in three provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. As of May 24, the DRC recorded 867 suspected infections and 204 probable deaths. Officials also noted they could track only one-fifth of the 1,745 contacts identified among infected individuals, highlighting systemic challenges in containing the outbreak.
The World Health Organization declared the Ebola emergency an international concern on May 15. By May 22, the DRC government reported an estimated 204 deaths. Tensions escalated in eastern DRC after a young man died from the illness, prompting incidents that included fire at an Ebola treatment center. The Ministry of Transport has permitted only medical and humanitarian flights with special permits for all other travel to Bunia.
