WHO Europe chief Hans Kluge urges fans to travel for World Cup despite Ebola restrictions

Hans Kluge, director of the World Health Organization’s Europe region, said the risk of Ebola spreading remains low as the FIFA World Cup approaches. On 11 June he told supporters, “Il n’y a aucune raison de modifier vos plans. Voyagez normalement, restez informés et profitez du tournoi.” At that time 635 cases and 127 deaths had been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 19 cases with two deaths in Uganda, with no cases recorded in the host nations – Canada, Mexico and the United States – or in Europe. Kluge noted that most infections occur in remote areas and that pre‑departure health checks are in place, keeping overall risk low.

The United States, however, has introduced entry bans for travelers from the DRC, South Sudan and Uganda, urging other countries to adopt similar measures ahead of the millions of fans expected in the United States. Belgian officials have refused to impose matching bans, citing alignment with WHO and EU recommendations. The European Commission is coordinating its response with EU member states, and health ministers plan to discuss the Ebola situation on 16 June.