The Democratic Republic of Congo has been forced to abandon plans for a World Cup preparation camp as a fresh Ebola outbreak spirals out of control, leaving British travellers facing renewed health warnings. The decision, announced by the Congolese football federation on Wednesday, cancels the national team’s scheduled training camp in Goma, a city on the border with Rwanda that has become the epicentre of the latest viral flare-up. At least 23 people have died in the past fortnight, with more than 60 suspected cases reported across North Kivu province.
For working families in Britain planning holidays or business trips to the region, the Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, urging caution and warning of possible border closures. But the economic impact is being felt far beyond the football pitch. The cancellation of the camp is a blow to local businesses in Goma, where hotels, restaurants and transport operators had been anticipating a windfall from the team’s stay.
“We were promised a boost, a chance to show the world we are open for business,” said a hotel manager who asked not to be named. “Now we are just praying people don’t cancel their bookings.” The outbreak has already disrupted trade routes used by miners and farmers, pushing up the price of cobalt and coffee on international markets.
For British consumers, that means more expensive electronics and a pricier morning brew. Health officials are racing to contain the virus, which has a mortality rate of up to 50 per cent. Vaccination teams have been deployed, but the region’s ongoing conflict and limited infrastructure hamper efforts.
The World Health Organisation has not yet declared a public health emergency, but experts warn that the window for containment is narrowing. For the ordinary men and women of Goma, the outbreak is a daily fight for survival. Market stalls stand empty, school attendance has plummeted and parents keep children indoors.
“We have seen this before,” said a local nurse, exhaustion creeping into her voice. “The world watches, and then they forget.” The British government has advised against all but essential travel to affected areas, and airlines are offering refunds.
But for those with bookings, the uncertainty is a fresh anxiety on top of an already punishing cost of living crisis. The cancellation of the World Cup camp is a stark reminder that disease does not discriminate between the wealthy and the working class. It spares no one, least of all those who depend on the next pay packet to get by.
