WHO declares Ebola ‘very high’ risk in the Congo as US demands country’s World Cup team isolate

Published May 23, 2026 3:49pm ET | Updated May 27, 2026 12:12pm ET



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.

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