1st LD: DR Congo suspends passenger flights to Ebola-hit Bunia

KINSHASA, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 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, the Ministry of Transport said on Saturday.

An Ebola outbreak was declared in Ituri on May 15. According to an official statement, no aircraft will be allowed to land at or take off from Bunia Airport until further notice.

The ministry 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 special approval from aviation and health authorities.