Experts Assure Low Ebola Risk at World Cup as US Readies Response

WHO:

NY Post - Experts in public health and disease control are involved in monitoring health risks during the World Cup.

Newser - Palak Raval-Nelson is the health commissioner of Philadelphia.

Newser - Rebecca Katz is a global health specialist leading a new health security hub.

Newser - The Health Security Operations Center is a joint effort between Georgetown University and MedStar Health.

WHAT:

NY Post - Experts have conducted nationwide training exercises simulating potential disease outbreaks at the World Cup.

Newser - Health officials are on high alert for infectious diseases during the World Cup, which includes monitoring wastewater and hospital visits.

Newser - The CDC is grappling with a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa and a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.

Newser - The Health Security Operations Center is issuing daily "situation reports" on disease trends in host cities and team base camps.

WHERE:

NY Post - The World Cup is taking place in North America, across 16 cities.

Newser - The Health Security Operations Center is located in the United States.

WHEN:

Newser - The expected World Cup disease surveillance dashboard was "in final development" days before the games began.

WHY:

Newser - The mass gatherings during the World Cup come at a tense moment for budget-strapped health agencies in the US.

Newser - The CDC has been affected by staffing cuts during the Trump administration.

HOW:

Newser - Workers at the Health Security Operations Center are analyzing data from around the country to alert health authorities to early signs of trouble.

Newser - Wastewater testing is being used to detect viral or bacterial infections, which can provide early warnings of outbreaks.

Newser - In Dallas, a team is enhancing mosquito testing for viruses like dengue and chikungunya, in addition to West Nile virus.

(UPDATED June 15, 2026 18:43 UTC)

Health experts are closely monitoring potential health risks during the World Cup, which is being held across 16 cities in North America, with the Health Security Operations Center leading the charge in collaboration with Georgetown University and MedStar Health. They are conducting nationwide training exercises and utilizing wastewater testing to detect early signs of infectious diseases, while also issuing daily reports on disease trends in host cities and team base camps. Amid a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa and a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, health officials are on high alert, especially as the CDC faces challenges due to staffing cuts during the Trump administration.