DR Congo Football Squad Relocates World Cup Training to Belgium Due to Ebola Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled its World Cup training camp in Kinshasa, relocating preparations to Belgium after an Ebola outbreak in the nation's eastern region. The upsurge in cases is believed to have claimed 139 lives out of 600 suspected infections.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern", though it has not classified it as a pandemic.

Jerry Kalemo, spokesperson for the national football team, confirmed that pre-tournament matches in Europe would proceed as scheduled. The squad is preparing for its first World Cup appearance since 1974, with friendly fixtures against Denmark on 3 June and Spain on 9 June.

Domestically, authorities are focused on containing the Ebola outbreak, attributed to the Bundibugyo species. There is currently no vaccine available for this strain, and the WHO estimates a jab could take up to nine months to develop.