The Trump administration is urging European countries to change their strategies for preventing Ebola infections as the World Cup approaches, according to sources. Officials are concerned that international travel could facilitate the spread of the virus, particularly from Central Africa where the outbreak originated. The State Department has requested that European nations implement stricter travel restrictions, arguing that current measures are insufficient. A senior official indicated that any Ebola outbreak in the U.S. would be attributed to Europe's inaction.
The World Cup, which begins on Thursday and runs through July 19, is expected to attract between 5 million and 7 million international visitors to the U.S., including individuals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak is concentrated. Reports indicate that the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has infected over 500 people and resulted in more than 90 deaths.
The Trump administration has criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) for its handling of the outbreak and has called on the European Union to adopt stricter travel measures similar to those imposed by Canada and Mexico. However, European officials have countered that screening and contact tracing are more effective than border closures. They assert that no EU nation has reported a confirmed Ebola case linked to the current outbreak and that the risk to the general public remains low. The WHO has also defended its response timeline, stating that confirmation of the outbreak was made as soon as possible.
The Trump administration claims to have allocated over $160 million to the Ebola response and maintains that the likelihood of an outbreak in the U.S. is low due to the measures already in place.
