Goma's main airport resumed flights on Tuesday after health authorities confirmed a decline in suspected Ebola cases across North Kivu province, a region that has borne the brunt of the latest outbreak. The reopening marks a cautious step toward normal operations in an area where travel restrictions had been in place for weeks to curb transmission risks.
Airport Resumes Operations After Weeks of Restrictions
The authority that manages Goma International Airport confirmed flights resumed at 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Border closures and airport screenings have been standard tools in Congo's fight against Ebola, a haemorrhagic fever that spreads through bodily fluids and can kill within days. The Civil Aviation Authority stated passengers would undergo thermal screening before boarding, a measure already applied to arrivals from Kinshasa.
North Kivu has recorded 42 confirmed cases this month, down from 78 in the previous four-week period, according to figures released by the provincial health division. The drop has given officials enough confidence to ease movement controls that many residents and traders had criticized as harmful to the local economy.
What Prompted the Reopening Decision
Health officials said the decision followed three consecutive weeks where daily suspected case reports fell below the threshold set by the World Health Organization for triggering travel restrictions. The ministry's emergency operations centre in Kinshasa reviewed data from nine treatment units across the province before giving approval. Regional health director Dr. Amédée Mumbere told reporters the trend was encouraging but warned against complacency.
The outbreak has primarily affected the territories of Beni, Butembo, and Katwa, where crowded markets and cross-border trade with Uganda have complicated containment efforts. Contact tracing has improved in recent weeks, with health workers now tracking 94 percent of known exposure chains, up from 71 percent in January, officials said.
Impact on Local Communities and Trade
Business groups in Goma welcomed the airport reopening, saying it would relieve pressure on the lake transport routes that traders had relied on during the flight ban. The road from Goma to Bukavu is partially washed out in places, making air links critical for perishable goods. Taxi drivers who park near the airport terminal said they had lost significant income while flights were suspended.
Schools in the city's eastern district reopened last week after the education ministry said environmental sampling in classrooms had returned clean results. Local radio stations have been broadcasting twice-daily health advisories reminding residents to report fevers and avoid traditional burial practices that have been linked to new transmission clusters.
International Response and Remaining Risks
WHO has maintained a team of 12 epidemiologists in North Kivu to support case investigation and laboratory confirmation. The UN agency praised Congo's approach but said surveillance must remain rigorous as the rainy season approaches, which typically disrupts road access to remote health posts. A WHO spokesperson noted that any uptick in cases could force a rapid reinstatement of travel limits.
The country has experienced ten separate Ebola outbreaks since 1976, and the current strain is genetically linked to the 2018–2020 outbreak that killed more than 2,200 people. Vaccine supply remains adequate, with the Merck shot still proving effective against the Zaire strain circulating in the region, health ministry data shows.
What to Watch in the Coming Weeks
The next official case count update is due Friday from the health ministry in Kinshasa. Officials will be watching whether the downward trend holds through the end of the month, when a planned awareness campaign begins in three districts that have seen limited community engagement with response teams. The campaign aims to address distrust that has led some families to hide sick relatives rather than seek treatment.
Border screening points with Uganda and Rwanda remain operational, and health workers have been deployed to major crossing points. The next review of travel advisories is scheduled for mid-June, when the UN aviation body will assess whether the easing of restrictions across affected provinces should continue.
The road from Goma to Bukavu is partially washed out in places, making air links critical for perishable goods. Taxi drivers who park near the airport terminal said they had lost significant income while flights were suspended.Schools in the city's eastern district reopened last week after the education ministry said environmental sampling in classrooms had returned clean results.
