The football team of the Democratic Republic of Congo has canceled its training camp for the World Cup due to the Ebola epidemic.

The national football team of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has announced the cancellation of a training session scheduled at home for the World Cup, in the context of an Ebola epidemic affecting the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international health alert for the 17th outbreak of Ebola in the DRC, where it is estimated that the epidemic has caused 139 deaths out of nearly 600 probable cases.

Although the risk of a pandemic is considered low, authorities in the United States have intensified health checks at borders, prohibiting the entry of citizens who have recently traveled to affected areas. The Congolese team, which has already trained in Europe, will move its camp from Kinshasa to Belgium.

The DRC qualified for the World Cup after a victory against Jamaica and will play in a group with Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan. The epidemic risk is considered high for Central Africa but low globally.