Concerns over an Ebola outbreak force Congo to move its World Cup training camp; The US tightens border controls
21 May – The Democratic Republic of Congo has canceled its pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa due to the Ebola outbreak sweeping the country, and instead moved to Belgium ahead of a friendly against Denmark on 3 June.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” and the BBC reported 139 suspected deaths and more than 600 cases.
A FIFA spokesperson said: “FIFA is aware and monitoring the situation regarding the Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the Football Association of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure that teams are aware of all medical and safety guidelines.”
The US government has implemented public health emergency regulations prohibiting anyone who has visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from entering the country. DR Congo’s opening game against Portugal in Houston falls on June 17, just inside that window.
CDC Ebola response incident manager Satish Pillai said: “We are actively working with FIFA to ensure safe travel, safe travel, and ensure that travelers and the American public remain safe.”
Fans face their own obstacles. Those already holding visas must prove they have spent 21 days outside the affected countries, while the US Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo has temporarily suspended all visa services, leaving other countries stranded.
The episode raises uncomfortable questions about America’s preparedness. Successive cuts to public health infrastructure funding, including reductions in CDC capacity, global health monitoring programs, and pandemic response units eliminated in recent budget rounds, have left the US less prepared to handle an imported outbreak than before.
Hosting the world’s largest sporting event, attracting millions of international visitors, would strain an already well-resourced system. With reduced surveillance and rapid response capabilities, the World Cup may be an inadvertent test of how weak America’s health defenses are.
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