DR Congo Cancels World Cup Training Camp in Kinshasa Due to Ebola Outbreak

AI Summary

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) football team has cancelled a three-day World Cup preparation training camp in Kinshasa due to an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country. The team will still play warm-up games against Denmark and Chile as planned.

The Cancellation of DR Congo's World Cup Training Camp

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) football team have cancelled a three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned public farewell to fans in the capital, Kinshasa, because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.

Details of the Ebola Outbreak

The outbreak of a rare type of Ebola known as Bundibugyo is thought to have killed more than 130 people and caused nearly 600 suspected cases. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern.

Impact on DR Congo's World Cup Preparations

The team's pre-tournament preparations will now take place elsewhere after the cancellation of the Kinshasa training camp. DR Congo are scheduled to play World Cup warm-up games against Denmark in Liege, Belgium, on June 3, and Chile in southern Spain on June 9. Both matches are going ahead as planned, team spokesman Jerry Kalemo told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Future Plans and Precautions

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that the US would ban the entry of all foreign nationals who had been in DRC, Uganda and South Sudan within the past three weeks. However, a US official said the Congolese World Cup team would not be affected by the CDC entry ban because they had been training in Europe for the past several weeks.