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Health Officials Say Measles, Not Ebola, Is the Top Public‑Health Risk for the 2026 World Cup

Because measles spreads easily through the air and vaccination gaps persist, agencies are expanding surveillance and urging pre‑travel immunization to limit outbreaks.

Overview

  • Federal, regional and local health teams are finalizing dashboards, deploying wastewater and case‑monitoring staff, and standing up a national Health Security Operations Center ahead of the tournament, which begins on June 11.
  • Experts warn measles poses the greater population‑level threat because it is highly contagious, can linger in the air for up to two hours, and can spread undetected during its long incubation period.
  • Targeted Ebola measures remain in place: U.S. travel restrictions, enhanced airport screening, post‑arrival monitoring for travelers from affected countries, and a 21‑day quarantine requirement applied to the DRC national team.
  • Emergency departments and hospitals are preparing for a layered surge from heat illness, crowd trauma, intoxication and behavioral‑health crises in addition to infectious diseases, and federal partners are coordinating surge support and simulations.
  • Public‑health advice focuses on raising vaccination and clinic readiness: PAHO and CDC recommend measles vaccination for travelers without proof of immunity and rapid local response plans to contain any imported cases.