The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa and moved preparations to Belgium due to an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.
The outbreak, which the World Health Organization has declared a “public health emergency of international concern,” is thought to have killed more than 130 people. The WHO said the situation is not yet at pandemic level.
Team spokesperson Jerry Kalemo said the squad will still play scheduled friendlies in Europe against Denmark on June 3 in Belgium and Chile on June 9 in Spain. DR Congo will open its World Cup campaign against Portugal in Houston on June 17, marking its first appearance at the tournament since 1974.
A team spokesperson told Reuters that the Kinshasa camp was cancelled partly due to U.S. travel restrictions. The U.S., co-host of the World Cup with Mexico and Canada, has banned entry to non-Americans who have been in the DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days.
All players and French coach Sébastien Desabre are based outside DR Congo and are not affected by the restrictions. Some team staff based in the country left before the 21-day deadline, Kalemo told the Associated Press.
Kinshasa is about 1,800 km from Ituri province, the outbreak’s epicentre, and no cases have been reported in the capital. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no vaccine.
