As millions pour into 11 U.S. cities next week for the start of the World Cup, the fanfare may be accompanied by a silent and potentially deadly threat: disease.
Already, U.S. officials have imposed a 30-day travel ban for most foreign nationals who have recently visited the two African countries as well as South Sudan because of its proximity. U.S. citizens and nationals returning from those countries can return immediately but need to route through specific airports for enhanced Ebola screening and also agree to 21 days of post-arrival monitoring.
While the U.S. prepares aggressively for Ebola, measles “currently poses a substantially greater public health threat than Ebola,” Dr. Steven Goldberg, the chief medical officer of molecular diagnostic laboratory HealthTrack, told Fortune.
Though it is less fatal than Ebola, measles can cause pneumonia and swelling of the brain, as well as death in some cases, and immunocompromised people and children are especially at risk.
Given the mass of international visitors set to visit the U.S. this summer, public health officials will also be monitoring other infectious diseases, including COVID and influenza. But measles may pose a unique risk.
“Stadiums, fan zones, airports, hotels, and public transit create ideal conditions for airborne transmission,” Goldberg told Fortune. “A single infected individual in a public area can lead to multiple exposures, and the virus persists in the air for up to 2 hours after the infected person has left.”
People coming to the U.S. from countries where measles is still endemic could add to the risk, said Goldberg. Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ivory Coast fall into that category and are participating in the World Cup this year.
While the strict measures being put in place in the U.S may be able to constrain the spread of Ebola, measles will be harder to contain.
“Measles exploits gaps in vaccination coverage that are widening due to vaccine hesitancy and pandemic-related disruptions,” said Goldberg.
Some of the best advice for avoiding infection include staying up to date on vaccinations and masking in crowded areas, like stadiums.
Still, it’s yet to be seen whether cases of disease will overshadow goals and big wins as the most memorable part of the World Cup.
