Risk of Ebola at the 2026 World Cup is low, experts say
The risk of an Ebola-infected traveller entering the United States during the 2026 World Cup is real but extremely low, and American hospitals are prepared to respond, infectious disease experts say.
Lessons from the 2014 crisis
The West African Ebola outbreak of 2014 left a lasting mark on the American healthcare system. A Liberian national, Thomas Eric Duncan, arrived at a Dallas hospital with Ebola symptoms and was sent home without being admitted, before later being hospitalised. Two nurses became infected but survived.
In response, the US government invested $260 million in Ebola training and response capacity, and opened 13 specialised treatment centres across the country. These centres are designed to identify, isolate and safely treat suspected patients.
Better prepared than ever
Health authorities and hospitals in World Cup host cities have undertaken intensive preparations for a range of infectious disease threats. This comes as 6.5 million fans are expected to travel across North America over the tournament's 39 days, which features 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
"We will not be able to prevent 100 percent of infections, but we are certainly better prepared than ever before," said Dr. Gavin Harris, an expert in severe infectious diseases at Emory University in Atlanta, one of 11 US host cities for the tournament.
Other diseases remain the primary concern
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (WHO) have all assessed the Ebola risk to host countries as low. According to these bodies, the most likely disease threats at mass gatherings remain:
- Measles
- COVID-19
- Seasonal influenza
The 2026 World Cup officially kicked off last week and is expected to be the best-attended edition in the tournament's history.
