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.The WHO upgraded its risk assessment level for the Congo on Friday and released the latest figures associated with the outbreak. There are 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths in the Congo, tied to Ebola. Additionally, there are nearly 750 suspected cases and over 170 suspected deaths.On Saturday, the Red Cross announced three of its workers had died this month after contracting Ebola. The humanitarian organization said they carried out “dead body management activities” in late March.
Ebola is highly contagious when a person comes into direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is sick, or in this case, dead. The rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus is the particular strain that caused the outbreak.
While the Ebola risk for the Congo is very high, the United Nations health agency kept the regional risk level at high and the global risk level at low.
Still, the United States is taking no chances as the country prepares to host international soccer teams for the World Cup between June 11 and July 19.
