Ruptly
"The Democratic Republic of Congo's national Ministry of Transport has imposed sweeping air travel restrictions on Bunia, as part of emergency measures to contain the escalating Ebola outbreak in Ituri province. Footage captured on Sunday shows security personnel enforcing tightened movement controls across the city, with vehicles continuing to pass through key roads under increased monitoring. Residents gave mixed reactions to the restrictions. Some welcomed the measures, describing them as as necessary to prevent the further spread of the virus. "It's a good idea because it will break the chain of contamination leaving Ituri province to other provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [...] If we allow people to move around and travel, it will increase the spread of the virus," one resident said. "We ourselves have seen people infected with Ebola, and we must take measures to protect ourselves. The measure of closing airports and customs can help," another added. Others warned of growing economic strain in a city heavily reliant on trade links with Kinshasa and other parts of the country. "For us traders, for example, the airport closure means we no longer have customers. People are no longer landing in Bunia, and we no longer go to Kinshasa to make money or conduct business," another local commented. The Ministry of Transport ordered a suspension of all commercial, private and special flights to and from Bunia Airport, allowing only humanitarian and medical flights with special approval. An ebola outbreak was declared in Ituri province earlier this month. DRC officials reported that there have been at least 177 suspected Ebola-related deaths and more than 750 suspected cases in the region, at the time of publication. Laboratory testing has identified the specific strain as the Bundibugyo ebolavirus. This strain currently has no vaccines and has been declared as Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation. Containment efforts face security and humanitarian challenges linked to conflict and displacement, particularly in Bunia and Mongbwalu, complicating contact tracing."
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