The national football team of the Democratic Republic of Congo is trying to manage its preparation for the World Cup amid an outbreak of a rare strain of Ebola (Bundibugyo) that has caused over 130 deaths, although the team remains confident in being able to compete in North America this summer.
FIFA issued a statement stating that "it is aware and monitoring the situation regarding the Ebola outbreak and maintains close communication with the Football Federation of the DRC to ensure that the team is informed of all medical and safety guidelines."
The president of the World Cup organizing committee in Houston, Chris Canetti, told USA Today: "As you can imagine, we are following the recommendations of FIFA and health authorities on this matter. For now, there are no changes to the plans. The scheduled arrival date for the team remains June 11."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States (CDC) suspended entry into the country for 30 days on Monday for individuals who have recently visited the areas affected by the Ebola outbreak: Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan.
Satish Pillai, operational lead for the CDC's Ebola response, stated on Tuesday, according to Politico.com: "We are actively working with FIFA to ensure safe travels, secure transit, and ensure that travelers and the American public remain protected at all times."
An American citizen who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is currently being transferred to Germany for treatment, as reported by the CDC of the United States on Tuesday.
The patient has been previously identified by the missionary organization Serge Christian as the medical missionary Peter Stafford. Germany had announced earlier that same day that they were preparing to treat the patient at the largest university hospital in Berlin.
The German Ministry of Health confirmed that an American citizen would be admitted to the special isolation unit at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin following a request for assistance from US authorities. A spokesperson noted that "preparations are being made" for the patient's admission and treatment, highlighting that the country has a network of experts for managing highly infectious diseases.
Six more individuals considered "high-risk contacts" are finalizing their travel plans to Europe for monitoring, as explained by Dr. Satish Pillai to the media in a call. These individuals will travel to Europe, including Germany, and will remain in quarantine during the surveillance period. One person will travel to the Czech Republic and the rest to Germany.
The US Department of State announced that it will fund up to 50 treatment clinics and associated costs in the affected regions of the DRC, Uganda, and Congo. The funding will primarily be channeled through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The goal is to strengthen detection, triage, and isolation of cases, as well as establish containment perimeters in the affected areas.
Brussels Airport, located in the heart of Belgium, is the main entry and exit point in Europe for travel with the DRC. Brussels Airlines operates daily flights, seven times a week, to and from Kinshasa. The company does not have exact figures on the number of passengers, but the Airbus A330 aircraft used on this route can carry around 290 passengers, as reported by Euro News.
Currently, all flights are operating as planned, and no additional protective measures have been introduced. However, Brussels Airlines crews do follow specific guidelines on health and safety, for example in the case of infectious diseases.
"Our crews are trained in this area. Among other things, they monitor for possible symptoms, apply hygiene measures such as frequent hand disinfection, and limit contacts when necessary. If required, they also collaborate with medical services and health authorities."