Mexico, USA and Canada coordinate protocols against Ebola for the World Cup

The Mexican government reported this Tuesday (26) that it is working together with the United States and Canada to create health protocols for the 2026 World Cup, given the advance of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The measures include epidemiological monitoring, isolation plans and coordinated actions between health and tourism authorities of the three countries that will host the tournament. The Congolese team will play matches in both American and Mexican territory during the group stage.

Mexico's Health Secretary, David Kershenobich, stated that governments are already acting in an integrated manner to reduce transmission risks during the World Cup.

"We are implementing epidemiological surveillance protocols in coordination with the United States and Canada in the context of the World Cup", said the secretary.

Last week, the United States announced that the delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo must undergo 21 days of isolation before entering the country. The team's debut is scheduled for June 17, against Portugal, in Houston.

The Congolese's second match will be against Colombia, in Guadalajara, Mexico. The last game of the initial phase will take place in Atlanta, against Uzbekistan.

The World Health Organization classified the current scenario in Congo as "extremely serious and difficult". According to the entity, the outbreak has already caused around 220 deaths in the African country and exceeded 900 suspected cases of infection.

The current advance of the disease is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which does not yet have a vaccine or approved specific treatment.

Risk of Ebola contagion in football is minimal for World Cup fans

Source: CNN