Air travel has officially resumed in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s northeastern Ituri province following a 10-day precautionary shutdown aimed at curbing a deadly Ebola outbreak.

The Congolese government lifted the temporary ban on passenger flights to Bunia Airport, the region’s primary aviation hub, after declaring that stringent biosecurity measures are now firmly in place to protect travelers and prevent further transmission.

According to a statement from the DRC’s Ministry of Transport, conditions on the ground now “allow a gradual and safe resumption of air operations.”

To minimize risks, health and aviation authorities are implementing a zero-tolerance policy for potential symptoms at both departure and arrival gates.

The new protocols include, all passenger must undergo systematic temperature checks before boarding and upon landing, travelers are required to wash their hands with soap and water or use provided hand sanitizers prior to embarking, and anyone presenting with a fever will be denied boarding and immediately transferred to health officials.

“Any passenger presenting with a fever will not be allowed to board and will be immediately referred to agents of the National Border Hygiene Program (PNHF) for assessment and management in accordance with current health protocols,” the Ministry statement noted.

Aviation stakeholders, including airlines, flight crews, and airport infrastructure managers, have been urged to cooperate fully to ensure strict compliance with the new directives.

Crisis at the border

The temporary closure of Bunia Airport tells the severity of the current health crisis gripping the region.

Ituri remains the hardest-hit province in an outbreak that has rapidly expanded into a cross-border emergency.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the current Ebola outbreak has already claimed at least 246 lives across the DRC and neighboring Uganda, placing regional health authorities on high alert.