Democratic Repulic Congo suspends passenger flights to Ebola-hit Bunia

The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has temporarily suspended all passenger flights to and from Bunia, the capital of the northeastern Ituri Province that is the epicenter of the ongoing Ebola outbreak.



An Ebola outbreak was declared in Ituri on May 15, with Bunia among the main affected areas.



According to an official statement, no aircraft will be allowed to land at or take off from Bunia Airport until further notice.



The ministry of transport said all commercial, private and special flights to and from Bunia have been suspended.



However, humanitarian, medical and emergency flights may be authorized subject to approval from aviation and health authorities.



The outbreak has since spread to neighboring North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.



Uganda, which borders Ituri, has also reported confirmed cases.



World Health Organization confirmed Friday that the situation in the DRC is "deeply worrisome," citing 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths.