An Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has raised concerns about travel to the World Cup, even though health experts say the risk to fans is minimal. The expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from 11 June to 19 July, coinciding with an outbreak that has recorded around 600 suspected cases and over 130 deaths. The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern.
Low Risk for Fans
Dr Oliver Johnson, a global health academic at King's College London, told Reuters that the risk of Ebola affecting fans is "very low." He explained that Ebola is not airborne and typically requires direct contact with a severely ill person. In high-income countries, cases are rare and quickly contained through contact tracing.
Impact on DR Congo Team
The outbreak has disrupted DR Congo's World Cup preparations. The team cancelled pre-tournament events in Kinshasa and relocated to Belgium. US authorities have barred entry to non-US passport holders from DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan who have been in those countries within the past 21 days, forcing Congo-based staff to depart early. The squad is due to arrive in Houston on 10 or 11 June.
Broader Implications
Despite the low direct risk, Dr Johnson warned of potential complications. US authorities have introduced enhanced screening for travellers arriving at Washington Dulles from affected countries. Health agencies are collaborating with FIFA and local officials. "It will affect things like airport queues and screening, which will slow things down," Johnson said. "It is going to add a little extra stress and it's going to cost money to the U.S. to try and organise."
He also highlighted uncertainty about the outbreak's containment: "I think the other possibility is that we hope this outbreak is not going to spread beyond DR Congo... That could cause a knock-on effect of travel bans or extra screening, and it could happen quite last minute."
Advice for Fans
Dr Johnson advised fans to follow basic precautions such as good hand hygiene and avoiding close contact if unwell. He urged supporters to respect others and avoid stigma.
The DR Congo team will open their campaign against Portugal in Houston, before facing Colombia in Guadalajara and Uzbekistan in Atlanta.
