Hosts Develop Ebola Response Protocols Ahead of 2026 World Cup

US, Mexico, and Canada Announce Travel Restrictions Ahead of World Cup

The United States, Mexico, and Canada have implemented travel restrictions related to the Ebola virus ahead of the World Cup. The restrictions are aimed at preventing the spread of the disease among fans arriving in North America for the tournament.

An outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus has been reported in East Africa, specifically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. As a result, health officials in the host countries have taken precautions to contain the outbreak.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the current outbreak could be the largest Ebola epidemic on record. In response, the US government has banned non-citizens who have traveled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the previous 21 days from entering the country. Green card holders who were in those countries in the previous 21 days are also subject to this ban.

Canada has temporarily banned residents of the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan from entering the country for 90 days. Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals who have been in affected areas recently will be required to quarantine for 21 days if they do not have symptoms.

Mexico’s health secretary has implemented tighter Ebola screening measures at airports, urging the public to avoid travel to the DRC and advising arrivals from the country to observe a 21-day quarantine.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.” The WHO has also advised that more than one million fans expected to attend the World Cup could swell the outbreak, rivalling the 2014-16 epidemic in West Africa.

The DRC team has been based in Belgium due to the Ebola outbreak and will play their matches behind closed doors if necessary. The team’s preparations for the tournament have been affected by the outbreak, with a planned warm-up match against Chile being cancelled due to fears over the spread of the virus.

Source: Al Jazeera