World Cup host cities prepare for health challenges amid reduced federal support
9 reported
Public health officials across the U.S., Canada and Mexico are preparing for the World Cup, which begins June 11 and runs through mid-July across 16 cities. Host city health departments report they are ready for challenges including heat, food safety, infectious diseases and mosquito-borne illnesses, though they are operating with diminished federal health funding and a reduced CDC presence. Officials in Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles and other cities have enhanced disease surveillance, food inspections and public health messaging. The CDC has held coordination calls and issued guidance only in recent months, according to the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Some local health departments are asking staff to forgo vacations and are accruing overtime costs to manage the workload. The article notes that the current Trump administration has pushed thousands of workers out of the CDC workforce and tampered politically with some of its functions.
What’s reported
The World Cup starts June 11, with 104 matches across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through mid-July.
Atlanta is hosting eight matches and a month-long fan festival expected to draw 15,000 people a day.
Dallas is hosting nine matches, the most of any city.
The World Cup finals are jointly hosted by New York and New Jersey on July 19.
Los Angeles is hosting eight games, including the U.S. opening match versus Paraguay.
Health departments are inspecting food vendors daily, monitoring wastewater for diseases, and expanding mosquito surveillance for West Nile, dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
Officials are also watching for symptoms of Ebola or hantavirus due to outbreaks.
The CDC has a muted presence this year; the Trump administration has pushed thousands of workers out of the CDC workforce and tampered politically with some of its functions.
Georgetown University has set up a Health Security Operations Center to track infectious diseases and send daily reports.
Key figures
Dr. Marcus Plescia, district health director for Fulton County, Georgia (includes Atlanta)
Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services
Dr. Alister Martin, New York City health commissioner
Barbara Ferrer, L.A. county health director
Dr. Debra Houry, former chief medical officer for the CDC (resigned last year)
Emily Hilliard, press secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services
Lori Freeman, CEO for the National Association of County and City Health Officials
Sources: NPR
