Ebola Outbreak Forces DR Congo To Cancel World Cup Camp

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently classified the outbreak as a “public health emergency of international concern,” while clarifying that the situation has not yet reached pandemic status.

Speaking on the development, DR Congo national team spokesperson Jerry Kalemo confirmed that the team’s scheduled warm-up matches in Europe would proceed as planned ahead of the nation’s first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1974.

The Congolese side is expected to take on Denmark in Belgium on June 3 before facing Chile in Spain on June 9. Their World Cup journey will officially begin against Portugal in Houston, United States, on June 17.

Reports further revealed that the Kinshasa training camp was cancelled due to travel restrictions imposed by the United States in response to the Ebola outbreak. Under the current health measures, non-American citizens who have recently visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days are barred from entering the US.

However, the restrictions are not expected to affect most of the squad, as all the players and the team’s French coach, Sébastien Desabre, are based outside DR Congo.

Kalemo also disclosed that some members of the team’s staff residing in DR Congo departed the country before the 21-day deadline took effect.

The now-cancelled training camp in Kinshasa had been anticipated to attract large numbers of supporters, including President Felix Tshisekedi.

Although Kinshasa is located nearly 1,800 kilometres from Ituri province — the epicentre of the outbreak — authorities have maintained that no Ebola cases have been recorded in the capital city.

Health officials continue to monitor the outbreak closely. While the WHO estimated that 139 people may have died from roughly 600 suspected cases, DR Congo’s Health Minister, Samuel Roger Kamba, reportedly stated that the death toll had risen to 159.

Medical experts have linked the outbreak to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine. According to the WHO, it could take up to nine months before a vaccine becomes available.