Get ready for the World Cup! ⚽️ But wait—there's a bit of a health hurdle before the big kick-off. With just about two weeks to go until Mexico, the US, and Canada start co-hosting the world's biggest football tournament, some serious travel restrictions have just dropped.
Three major Mexican airlines—Aeromexico, Viva, and Volaris—have announced emergency bans on travelers coming from Central Africa. If you've visited Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), or South Sudan in the last 21 days, you're currently restricted from flying into Mexico. Low-cost carriers Viva and Volaris have set this ban for 60 days. ✈️🚫
This is especially tricky for the DRC national team, who have qualified for the tournament! To keep things safe and avoid the travel chaos, the Congolese squad has been training in Belgium and will be basing their operations out of Houston, Texas. Talk about a long commute for the game! 🇧🇪🇺🇸
Why the sudden move? 🦠 The World Health Organization (WHO) is sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in Ebola cases in the DRC since May 15. We're talking over 1,000 suspected cases, with 225 already confirmed in the lab. The real worry? This is the Bundibugyo strain, and right now, there's no approved vaccine or targeted treatment available. 🏥
Despite the tension, the football fever is still peaking. The tournament officially starts on June 11 with a massive opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa in the heart of Mexico City. 🇲🇽🇿🇦
Stay safe, stay updated, and let's hope the beautiful game can bring everyone together safely! 🌍✨
Reference(s):
Mexico bars Central African travelers over Ebola ahead of World Cup
cgtn.com
