England are keeping a close watch on a measles outbreak in the United States with just two weeks remaining until the start of the World Cup. The Three Lions are set to begin their tournament campaign against Croatia less than a week after the opening matches.
As preparations for the World Cup intensify, the Football Association (FA) has been given fresh cause for concern due to a significant rise in measles cases. The United States is reportedly on track for its worst outbreak of the illness in decades.
The situation has been brought to the attention of all 48 nations participating in the tournament. According to Mail Online, England are 'alert' to the outbreak, having received guidance from FIFA. Reports in Germany suggested that organisers are mandating vaccination for all players and staff, but this is not believed to be accurate.
Mark Jit, Chair and Professor of the Department of Global and Environmental Health at New York University, told the Daily Mail: 'These outbreaks [this year] are far larger than the US has typically seen in recent decades. This is worrying because measles isn't a mild illness - it can cause serious complications and can occasionally be fatal. So an event that brings large numbers of people together in crowded settings is a concern.'
'Measles is one of the most contagious infections we know - it spreads far more easily than flu or Covid for example. If someone with measles was in a crowded stadium, there's a very good chance that they could infect other unvaccinated people nearby.'
'My understanding is that World Cup teams are monitoring their players closely for different infectious diseases, so a measles case will likely be picked up quite soon. The challenge is that someone with measles could spread the virus to others before they get a rash.'
'The good news is that two doses of the MMR vaccine give very good protection against measles. No vaccine is perfect, but if the entire squad is fully vaccinated, the risk of a team-wide outbreak is extremely low.'
The measles outbreak concerns come just days after the Democratic Republic of Congo were forced to relocate their pre-tournament training camp due to fears over a rise in Ebola cases in the African nation. FIFA stated that 'it is aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the DRC Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.'
