The airport serving the epicentre of the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak reopened on Tuesday, as the number of suspected cases fell sharply, with authorities announcing the gradual resumption of flights. The airport, which had allowed only humanitarian and medical planes after commercial flights were suspended on May 23, is easing access for health workers tackling the Bundibugyo strain for which no approved vaccine exists.
The World Health Organization reported that suspected cases dropped to 116 from 906 late last week, based on Congolese data. Many patients were removed from the tally after showing symptoms of other illnesses, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said in Geneva. Confirmed cases stand at 321, including 48 deaths, according to DRC health authorities.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke with Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on Monday and travelled to the outbreak zone over the weekend. Tedros's visit came as DRC launched a public communication campaign insisting "the situation is under control," after the government reported several recoveries.
Neighbouring Uganda has recorded 15 cases and one death, its health ministry said. No vaccine is currently licensed for the Bundibugyo virus; most past large outbreaks were caused by the Zaire strain, for which a vaccine exists. Africa CDC, the African Union's health agency, said it hopes a Bundibugyo vaccine will be ready by the end of the year.
In Kenya, protests against a quarantine facility reserved for US patients arriving from DRC turned deadly on Monday. A 27-year-old man was shot and killed, the rights group VOCAL Africa said, as demonstrators clashed with police firing tear gas. President William Ruto defended the site as part of a "broader national preparedness system."
DRC suspended all commercial flights to Bunia airport in Ituri province on May 23, permitting only medical and humanitarian planes. On Tuesday, the transport ministry said a security review concluded conditions were met "for a gradual and safe resumption of flights."