Source: Fortune
Summary
As the World Cup approaches, U.S. officials are preparing for potential health risks, including Ebola and measles. Despite the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, measles may pose a greater threat due to its airborne transmission and the large number of international visitors. The U.S. has imposed travel restrictions and enhanced screening measures for Ebola, but measles may be harder to contain. Public health officials are monitoring other infectious diseases, including COVID and influenza.
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The announcement sounds familiar.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, said the U.S. asked the DRC’s national team to quarantine in Belgium for 21 days before arriving in the U.S. The U.S. has imposed a 30-day travel ban for most foreign nationals who have recently visited Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. Dr. Steven Goldberg, chief medical officer of HealthTrack, said measles poses a unique risk due to its airborne transmission and the large number of international visitors. The U.S. officially eradicated measles in 2000, but recent outbreaks have occurred in states with low vaccination rates.
The numbers tell one story, but the real risk may be hiding in plain sight.
