Home / Health / Ebola Outbreak Cancels Congo's World Cup Camp
Ebola Outbreak Cancels Congo's World Cup Camp
21 May
Summary
- DR Congo football team's training camp moved to Belgium.
- Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo declared a global health emergency.
- Bundibugyo Ebola strain has no current vaccine; nine months for jab.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa has been canceled due to an Ebola outbreak in the eastern region. The team's preparations will now take place in Belgium.
This decision comes as an upsurge in Ebola cases, identified as the rare Bundibugyo species, has reportedly killed 139 people out of 600 suspected cases. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern," though it is not considered at pandemic level.
Despite the health crisis, the national football team's spokesperson confirmed that pre-tournament games in Europe will proceed as planned. The squad is gearing up for their first World Cup appearance since 1974. They are scheduled to play friendly matches against Denmark on June 3 and Spain on June 9.
Authorities are focused on containing the Ebola outbreak, for which there is currently no vaccine. The WHO estimates that a vaccine could take up to nine months to become available.
