DR Congo suspends flights to Ebola-hit Bunia as cases near 750
Synopsis
With nearly 750 suspected cases, 177 suspected deaths, and a strain that has no approved vaccine, the DRC's Ebola outbreak is shaping up to be one of the most complex in years. Kinshasa's flight ban on Bunia is a hard containment move — but with violence blocking responders on the ground and Uganda already reporting cases, the window to contain this is narrowing fast.
Key Takeaways
The DRC Ministry of Transport has suspended all passenger flights to and from Bunia Airport in Ituri Province until further notice.
The Ebola outbreak was declared on 15 May 2025 ; it has since spread to North Kivu , South Kivu , and Uganda .
WHO reports 82 confirmed cases and 7 confirmed deaths , but suspects nearly 750 cases and 177 deaths in total.
Uganda has confirmed 5 Ebola cases as of Saturday.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain , which has no approved vaccine or treatment ; doses are reportedly months away.
Violence and insecurity in the region are actively impeding the outbreak response, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has temporarily suspended all passenger flights to and from Bunia, the capital of northeastern Ituri Province and the epicentre of an active Ebola outbreak, the country's Ministry of Transport announced. The suspension, effective until further notice, covers all commercial, private, and special flights to and from Bunia Airport, with exemptions possible only for humanitarian, medical, and emergency operations subject to approval from aviation and health authorities.
How the Outbreak Began
The Ebola outbreak in Ituri Province was officially declared on 15 May 2025, with Bunia identified as one of the primary affected areas. The disease has since spread beyond Ituri's borders, reaching the neighbouring provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. Across the border, Uganda — which shares a boundary with Ituri — has also reported confirmed cases, with its Ministry of Health confirming on Saturday that three new infections had been detected, bringing Uganda's total to five confirmed cases.
Scale of the Crisis
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation in the DRC as 'deeply worrisome' on Friday, citing 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths. He cautioned, however, that the true scale is believed to be considerably larger: surveillance data points to nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths. 'These numbers are changing as surveillance efforts and laboratory testing improve, but violence and insecurity are impeding the response,' Tedros said in a post on social media.
The Bundibugyo Strain: No Vaccine, No Approved Treatment
This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola — a rarer variant first identified in Uganda in 2007. Unlike the Zaire strain, which drove previous large-scale DRC outbreaks and for which approved vaccines exist, the Bundibugyo strain currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Candidate vaccines are reportedly under discussion, but WHO officials have said doses remain months away at best.
Anais Legand, a WHO technical officer on viral haemorrhagic fevers, said on Wednesday that while preparations for possible vaccine trials are ongoing, the immediate priority is establishing safe treatment centres, creating patient referral pathways, and ensuring every suspected case is detected and treated early.
What Comes Next
The flight suspension signals a significant escalation in containment efforts by Kinshasa, as authorities attempt to limit cross-regional transmission. The combination of active conflict zones, limited laboratory infrastructure, and a strain with no approved countermeasure makes this one of the more complex Ebola responses the WHO has managed in recent years. International health agencies are expected to scale up support as surveillance data continues to evolve.
Point of View
The surveillance gap is enormous — partly because active conflict is keeping health workers out of affected zones. The spread to Uganda adds a cross-border dimension that will test WHO's regional coordination capacity. If candidate vaccines remain months away, containment through movement restrictions and treatment centres is the only lever available, and history shows that lever works poorly when insecurity is high.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the DRC suspended flights to Bunia?
The DRC Ministry of Transport suspended all passenger flights to and from Bunia Airport to contain the spread of an active Ebola outbreak centred in Ituri Province. The ban covers commercial, private, and special flights, with humanitarian and medical flights subject to separate approval.
How serious is the Ebola outbreak in the DRC?
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has described the situation as 'deeply worrisome.' As of Friday, there are 82 confirmed cases and 7 confirmed deaths, but surveillance data suggests nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths across the DRC and Uganda.
What is the Bundibugyo Ebola strain and why does it matter?
The Bundibugyo strain is a rarer variant of the Ebola virus first detected in Uganda in 2007. Unlike the Zaire strain — responsible for previous major DRC outbreaks — it has no approved vaccine or specific treatment, making this outbreak significantly harder to manage medically.
Has Ebola spread beyond the DRC?
Yes. Uganda, which borders Ituri Province, has confirmed five Ebola cases as of Saturday, including three newly detected infections. The outbreak has also spread within the DRC to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.
When will an Ebola vaccine be available for this strain?
WHO officials have said candidate vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain are under discussion, but doses are reportedly months away at best. In the meantime, WHO is prioritising the establishment of treatment centres and patient referral pathways.
