The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) national football team has canceled a three-day World Cup preparation training camp and a planned public farewell in Kinshasa due to an Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the country.

Team spokesman Jerry Kalemo confirmed to the Associated Press that friendly matches against Denmark in Belgium and Chile in Spain will proceed as scheduled. However, the Kinshasa stage of preparations has been scrapped.

The outbreak of a rare Ebola strain, Bundibugyo, has killed over 130 people and caused nearly 600 suspected cases. The World Health Organization has declared it a public health emergency of international concern.

All DRC players and French coach Sebastien Desabre are based abroad, mostly in France. Team staff currently in DRC are leaving the country imminently.

FIFA stated it is monitoring the situation and coordinating with the DRC Football Association. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention imposed a 30-day entry ban on foreign nationals who have been in DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan.

A US official said the Congolese team is exempt from the ban as they have been training in Europe. However, those who returned to DRC within 21 days face quarantine requirements.

DRC qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974. They are in Group G alongside Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.

Source: www.aljazeera.com