“Ebola is not a threat to the World Cup”

The Ebola outbreak in central Africa is not expected to pose a problem for the organization of the World Cup in Guadalajara in Mexico, where the Democratic Republic of the Congo will play its second match of the tournament in Group K against Colombia. The government of Jalisco has already activated the relevant health protocols and interagency coordination frameworks with the federal government to prevent the spread of the virus.

Risks of ebola at the World Cup

In an interview with AS México, Jalisco Health Secretary Héctor Raúl Pérez Gómez said the state government has been closely monitoring the outbreak for the past three weeks and, for now, does not believe it presents a major risk to the World Cup.

“The World Health Organization considers this outbreak to be low impact for the rest of the world’s healthcare systems. The 2014-2016 outbreak, which was the most serious, had a major impact, but only a small number of cases were treated in Europe. Those were people infected in African countries affected by the outbreak,” he said.

“We have to remain very alert and attentive, but without falling into panic,” the official added.

The main concern for Pérez Gómez’s team is the arrival of Congolese fans.

No travel restrictions for fans

“We have to maintain very strong epidemiological surveillance. At the moment, the WHO has not established any travel restrictions for people arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Uganda,” the official explained.

To address that, cooperation has already been established with the federal government through Mexico’s Foreign Ministry and the National Immigration Institute.

“We must identify every passenger and international visitor. Immigration questionnaires include a section asking which countries travelers visited before arriving in Mexico. Much of our health monitoring relies on the accuracy of the information provided by passengers. We are counting on that obligation to answer truthfully. In addition, our international points of entry have health screening areas where anyone showing symptoms can also be examined.”

DR Congo team considered safe

According to Pérez Gómez, the Congolese national team, nicknamed “The Leopards,” is not considered a major risk because the squad has been training in Europe, outside African territory.

“They have already made it public that they will not return to their country before the World Cup. They will not hold a farewell event with their fans. They are traveling directly here, and they will arrive after the incubation period has already passed. There is no issue in receiving the team and its officials. They have been training outside affected territories and undergoing thorough medical checks,” the health secretary explained.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo will open its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Portugal on June 17 at NRG Stadium in Houston. They will then travel to Guadalajara to face Colombia on June 23 before concluding Group K play against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.

“The Leopards” will stay at Houston Sports Park throughout the tournament. They will not stay overnight in Mexico.

Ebola, one of the deadliest diseases

The Ebola virus causes severe hemorrhagic fever that primarily affects primates. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected patient, such as blood or urine.

“The issue is that a person with Ebola does not spread the disease before symptoms appear, unlike some other infectious diseases. If Ebola were transmitted through the air, we would be facing a catastrophe,” Pérez Gómez explained.

Its high fatality rate has always been a major concern for doctors. According to the WHO, Ebola has a mortality rate of around 50%.

The 2014-2016 epidemic caused the deaths of 11,323 people across 10 countries, with most cases concentrated in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

The current outbreak has so far claimed at least 10 lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the latest report from WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus. The organization has also reported 101 confirmed cases, along with 900 additional suspected cases and 200 deaths that may be linked to Ebola.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.