The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) football team has decided to cancel a three-day training camp in Kinshasa, along with a public farewell event for fans, due to an Ebola outbreak in the eastern region of the country. This decision comes as the team prepares for upcoming World Cup warm-up matches.

Training Camp Cancellation

Team spokesman Jerry Kalemo confirmed that the cancellation was necessary as the DRC team had planned three stages of preparation. The first stage was set to take place in Kinshasa, followed by friendly matches against Denmark in Liege, Belgium, on June 3, and Chile in southern Spain on June 9. Kalemo noted that only the Kinshasa stage has been affected by the outbreak.

Ebola Outbreak Details

The outbreak involves a rare type of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, which has reportedly resulted in over 130 fatalities and nearly 600 suspected cases. The World Health Organization has classified the situation as a public health emergency of international concern. As a precaution, several team staff members based in the DRC are expected to leave the country shortly.

FIFA has acknowledged the outbreak and is in close contact with the DRC Football Association to provide necessary medical and security guidance. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a temporary ban on entry for foreign nationals who have been in DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan within the past three weeks. However, officials indicated that the Congolese World Cup team would not be impacted by this ban, as they have been training in Europe and have not returned to DRC recently.