health
WHO declares Ebola 'very high' risk in Congo as US prepares for World Cup
The World Health Organization has declared the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo a “very high” risk in the central African nation as the virus threatens to derail the FIFA World Cup next month.
TL;DR
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a 'very high' risk.
- There are 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths in the Congo, with nearly 750 suspected cases and over 170 suspected deaths.
- Three Red Cross workers died this month after contracting Ebola while performing 'dead body management activities'.
- The Bundibugyo ebolavirus is the strain causing the current outbreak.
- The US has urged the Congolese soccer team to self-isolate in Belgium for three weeks before traveling for the FIFA World Cup (June 11 - July 19) to prevent the spread of the virus.
- The Congolese team has scheduled matches in Belgium and Spain before heading to the US, where they are set to play Portugal, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.