A measles outbreak is spreading across Mexico, the United States and Canada, the three host nations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prompting calls for caution among travelers visiting the region.
The World Cup runs through July 19 across 16 cities in Mexico, the United States and Canada. According to Mexican health authorities, the number of confirmed measles cases in Mexico stood at 11,111 (with 14 deaths) as of May 25, an increase of about 1.7 times from last year's 6,608. The United States and Canada also reported 1,983 and 1,042 confirmed cases respectively, with all three nations experiencing outbreaks ahead of the jointly hosted international event.
Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease transmitted through air and droplets, with a more than 90% chance of infection when a person without immunity comes into contact with a patient. Major symptoms include a high fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, rash, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis, with an incubation period of seven to 21 days.
Caution is also advised against mosquito-borne diseases including dengue fever, Zika virus infection, chikungunya fever, West Nile fever and malaria. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) advised using mosquito repellent at intervals of three to four hours on average and wearing light-colored long-sleeved tops and long pants when engaging in extended outdoor activities such as cheering at matches. The agency also said that the risk of mosquito exposure could increase during nighttime tourism or visits to wetlands and lakes after watching matches, requiring caution.
The agency stressed compliance with personal hygiene rules to prevent waterborne and foodborne diseases. It advised avoiding unsafe water, street food and undercooked food, and called for proper handwashing as well as eating thoroughly cooked food and drinking boiled water or bottled water.
The risk of heat-related illness is also high during long-distance travel and outdoor cheering amid daytime heat waves. With schedules overlapping, such as waiting for transport to stadiums and cheering, there is a risk of dehydration, so people should drink water frequently and adjust their activity intensity during hot hours. Heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion present symptoms including headache, dizziness and reduced consciousness, and can be life-threatening if neglected.
After returning home, those with suspected symptoms of infectious disease such as cough, fever, rash or diarrhea must report to a quarantine officer through the Q-CODE (Quarantine COVID-19 Defense, or health status questionnaire). If symptoms suspected of infectious disease appear within a few days, individuals must visit a medical institution and be sure to inform staff of their overseas travel history before receiving treatment. Consultations regarding infectious diseases are also available through the KDCA call center (1339).
The KDCA plans to intensively monitor trends in infectious disease occurrence until the World Cup ends. It plans to continue and maintain its task force operating system and thoroughly support infectious disease prevention and management. KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan said, "Large-scale international events like the World Cup involve a lot of movement of teams and spectators and prolonged crowded activities, making the prevention of infectious diseases and heat-related illnesses important," adding, "People should thoroughly comply with vaccination and personal hygiene rules, and if suspected symptoms appear after returning home, they should report to quarantine officers and receive prompt treatment."
