Trump Administration Presses Europe for Tighter Ebola Curbs Before 2026 World Cup Draws 5 Million
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Jun 9
Trump Administration Presses Europe for Tighter Ebola Curbs Before 2026 World Cup Draws 5 Million
2 articles · Updated · The Independent · Jun 9
Summary
State Department officials last week urged European governments to ignore WHO guidance and impose stricter travel limits on arrivals from Central Africa before the 2026 World Cup.
More than 500 Ebola cases and over 100 deaths have been recorded in the Bundibugyo outbreak in Congo and Uganda, raising U.S. fears that infected travelers could reach North America during the tournament.
Between 5 million and 7 million tourists are expected for the month-long event co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico; Congo's national team is due in Houston on Thursday after 21 days in isolation in Belgium.
Europe has resisted the U.S. push, arguing WHO-backed screening, testing and contact tracing are more effective than border restrictions and that the public risk remains very low.
The broader U.S. response has already stirred backlash in Kenya, where protests over a planned 50-bed quarantine center for Americans turned violent after police used tear gas and water cannons.