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  • US Warns DR Congo Team Over Ebola Ahead of World Cup

    Democratic Republic of the Congo have insisted they will not alter their World Cup preparations despite a warning from the United States over the country’s ongoing Ebola outbreak.

    According to reports by The Guardian, US officials directed the DR Congo national team to remain isolated in a training bubble in Belgium for 21 days before travelling to the United States for the tournament.

    US Issues Strict Warning

    Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, said American authorities had already informed FIFA and the Congolese government about the restriction.

    “We’ve been very clear to Congo that they should maintain the integrity of their bubble for 21 days before they can then come to Houston on June 11th,” Giuliani said.

    “We want to make sure there is nothing that’s going to come in or near our borders,” he added.

    The US Department of Homeland Security also stated that the move was necessary to protect players, officials and millions of fans expected at the tournament.

    DR Congo Refuses To Change Schedule

    Despite the warning, officials of the Congolese team said there were no plans to alter their training schedule.

    A spokesperson for the team reportedly confirmed that all players were currently based in Europe and had not recently travelled from Congo.

    “We have kept our training programme. No player in the squad has come from DRC,” the official said.

    The team is expected to play friendly matches against Denmark in Liège on June 3 and Chile in Cádiz on June 9.

    However, a planned three-day visit to Kinshasa as part of their World Cup send-off has now been cancelled.

    WHO Raises Ebola Alarm

    The development comes after the World Health Organization raised the Ebola outbreak risk in DR Congo to “very high.”

    According to the organisation, the rare Bundibugyo strain currently spreading in parts of the country has no approved vaccine or treatment.

    The WHO disclosed that there are currently 82 confirmed Ebola cases and seven confirmed deaths in DR Congo, alongside hundreds of suspected infections and fatalities.

    Historic World Cup Return

    DR Congo qualified for the FIFA World Cup for only the second time in history after previously appearing in 1974 when the country competed as Zaire.

    The team is expected to camp in Houston during the tournament and will begin their Group K campaign against Portugal on June 17.

  • WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak Global Health Emergency As Cases Spread To Congo And Uganda

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a “public health emergency of international concern,” following a sharp rise in confirmed cases and suspected deaths across affected regions.

    The outbreak, first detected in Ituri Province in northeastern Congo, has now been confirmed in both Kinshasa and Kampala, raising global concern over wider transmission.

    Cases Spread Across Borders

    According to WHO data, at least 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths have been recorded in Ituri Province, although only a small number have been confirmed through laboratory testing.

    The organisation said eight cases have so far been scientifically confirmed, while broader assessments suggest the outbreak could be more widespread than currently documented.

    Emergency Declaration Raises Global Alarm

    The WHO’s emergency declaration signals a coordinated international response to contain the outbreak, improve surveillance, and accelerate access to vaccines, treatments and health resources.

    The agency warned that significant uncertainties remain about the true scale and geographic spread of the virus.

    “There are significant uncertainties about the true number of infected people and the geographic spread associated with this event,” the WHO said.

    Urban Spread Raises Concern

    Health officials confirmed that cases have now been detected in Kampala and Kinshasa, both major capital cities, increasing fears of rapid transmission due to high population density and cross-border movement.

    One of the confirmed cases in Uganda reportedly resulted in death, while others were linked to travellers moving from Congo’s affected regions.

    Response And Challenges

    The outbreak has been linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no licensed vaccine or treatment currently exists.

    WHO said ongoing humanitarian challenges, population movement, and weak health systems in affected areas could complicate containment efforts.

    Public health experts have also raised concerns that early detection may have come late in the outbreak cycle, making response efforts more difficult.

    As the situation develops, global health authorities are expected to intensify monitoring, contact tracing and emergency response operations across Central and East Africa.