FIRST ON FOX: The World Cup not only tested the players on the pitch, but also the Trump administration's large public health operation to safeguard the public as fans from all over the world moved across the United States.Amid the fandom, as 11 American cities hosted 39 teams and 78 matches, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operated largely behind the scenes to detect emerging threats and to respond to public health emergencies."Readiness is not only measured by how we respond to emergencies, but by the work we do every day to prevent them," Acting CDC Director Dr.Jay Bhattacharya said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"The FIFA World Cup demonstrated the strength of CDC’s partnerships, preparedness, and commitment to protecting the health of every community we serve."CONGO TEAM MUST ISOLATE TO ENTER UNITED STATES FOR WORLD CUP AMID EBOLA OUTBREAKFans gather before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina at New Jersey Stadium, also known as MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19, 2026.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked public health threats behind the scenes during the tournament.
(Anadolu via Getty Images)In total, the FIFA World Cup hosted 48 teams across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with more than five million tickets sold.An estimated 6.5 million fans from around the world converged in all three host countries, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and, possibly, germs.Overlapping with Independence Day celebrations, large gatherings were common, as well as the backdrop of concurrent international disease activity, including the Ebola and Hantavirus outbreaks.Infectious disease can easily spread in large crowds, and experts were already looking at wastewater, a possible uptick in hospital visits, as well as social media for any signs of a potential outbreak.Diseases like measles are always a top concern.
As of July 16, there were 2,260 confirmed measles cases i...