Patrick Agyemang, right, of the United States takes a shot on goal against Koni De Winter of Belgium during the international friendly match in March between the USMNT and Belgium in Atlanta, Ga. On Wednesday, Belgium denied a U.S. demand to impose strict entry bans on Congolese travelers before the World Cup. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA
June 10 (UPI) -- Belgian officials on Wednesday rejected a demand by the United States that Belgium impose an entry ban on people from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
U.S. officials said the proposed ban was meant to prevent the spread of Ebola during the World Cup.
Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgium's health minister, said the country would continue following scientific advice rather than U.S. demands, Politico reported.
"We are in close consultation with the partners involved and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control," Vandenbroucke said. "Science concludes that action must be taken where the crisis is raging. An entry ban is not proposed to anyone at the moment."
