U.S., Canada, and Mexico Announce Coordinated Public Health Travel Measures Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 Amid Regional Ebola Response
WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY/OTTAWA – May 28, 2026: The Governments of the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico have released a joint statement announcing aligned public health travel measures in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. This coordinated approach targets individuals traveling from African regions identified as being at the greatest risk from the Ebola virus. The nations stated that the primary goal is to protect their citizens and the millions of fans, athletes, and tourists expected to attend the event, while maintaining travel and commerce across their borders.
The joint effort comes as the U.S. Department of State, in close coordination with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), continues a rapid and comprehensive response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The U.S. strategy is focused on containing the outbreak at its source to protect the American people and prevent further international spread.Expanded U.S. Response and Financial Commitment
The U.S. government is scaling up its assistance to contain the virus. On May 27, the State Department finalized plans to allocate an additional $80 million in bilateral assistance to key partners on the ground, bringing the total bilateral foreign assistance for the Ebola response to more than $112 million in less than two weeks.
The new funding is dedicated to several critical response activities:
- Border Screening and Surveillance: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will enhance health screening at regional points of entry, including airports and key land and water crossings, and improve community engagement.
- PPE Procurement and Delivery: UNICEF and the World Food Program will expand the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and commodities to protect healthcare workers in high-risk areas.
- Contact Tracing: Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) World Health, World Vision, and UNICEF will expand contact tracing and associated community-based surveillance.
- Diagnostic Supplies: FHI 360 will increase the procurement and distribution of test kits and support the safe transportation of samples for improved detection.
In addition to bilateral aid, the State Department has committed $50 million to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to fund up to 50 Ebola response clinics in affected areas. Furthermore, $300 million is being provided through OCHA pooled funds to the DRC and Uganda for broader humanitarian efforts.Regional Coordination with Kenya
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss coordinating public health response efforts. The United States Government intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts and has already committed $112 million in bilateral assistance to the regional response. The two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination, leveraging the strong US-Kenya health partnership to address public health challenges across East Africa.
About The Author
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
