In brief
The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially canceled its pre-World Cup training camp located in Kinshasa, responding to a deadly Ebola outbreak that has claimed many lives in the eastern part of the country. The national team will now prepare in Belgium as they gear up for friendly matches against Denmark and Spain ahead of the World Cup. Despite the outbreak, the team's spokesperson confirmed that their tournament preparations will continue. The World Health Organization has labeled the situation a 'public health emergency', though not classified as a pandemic.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, due to an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.
Preparations have been moved to Belgium amid the upsurge, which is estimated to have killed 139 people out of 600 suspected cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the outbreak a 'public health emergency of international concern', but noted it is not at a pandemic level.
Jerry Kalemo, a spokesperson for the national football team, confirmed to international media that pre-tournament games in Europe would continue as planned, as the squad gets ready for their first World Cup since 1974.
DR Congo is scheduled to play friendly matches against Denmark on June 3 and Spain on June 9 ahead of the World Cup finals.
At home, authorities are focused on containing the Ebola outbreak. The outbreak has been linked to a rare species known as Bundibugyo, which currently has no available vaccine. The WHO has indicated it might take up to nine months for a vaccine to be developed.
