The Trump administration is pressuring European countries to adopt stricter travel restrictions related to the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, arguing that international travel during the FIFA World Cup could increase the risk of the virus spreading globally, according to Axios.
The State Department last week urged European governments to impose travel restrictions on travelers from Central African countries affected by the outbreak, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the epidemic is centered, reports Axios on Tuesday.
"European countries must do their part to ensure this outbreak does not spread further," a State Department official said. "Action is required now."
The administration's push comes as the World Cup begins Thursday and runs through July 19.
The tournament, which features a record 48 teams and 104 matches, is expected to draw between 5 million and 7 million international visitors to the United States, according to State Department estimates.
The current outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the DRC and neighboring Uganda has infected more than 500 people and killed more than 90, according to recent reports.
The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global health emergency on May 17. Unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, there is no licensed vaccine or approved treatment for the Bundibugyo strain.
According to Axios, senior administration officials are frustrated with Europe's reliance on WHO guidance, which generally favors screening, testing, and contact tracing over broad travel restrictions and border closures.
The administration contends that the WHO failed to promptly report the outbreak and did not encourage countries to adopt stricter travel controls.
U.S. officials have also criticized the European Union for resisting enhanced airport screening measures and travel restrictions for travelers arriving from Ebola-affected countries.
The White House has urged European countries to follow Canada and Mexico in adopting restrictions similar to those implemented by the United States.
U.S. officials have been monitoring travelers arriving from African countries, including those transiting through Europe, and have denied entry to some travelers.
In May, an Air France flight traveling from Paris to Detroit was diverted to Montreal after U.S. authorities determined a passenger from the DRC was on board.
The DRC national soccer team has been permitted to enter the United States after completing a 21-day isolation period in Belgium required by U.S. authorities.
The delegation is scheduled to arrive in Houston on June 11 ahead of the country's first World Cup appearance in more than 50 years.
European officials and the WHO have rejected the administration's criticism.
European officials maintain that no European Union country has reported a confirmed Ebola case linked to the current outbreak and have described the risk to the public as very low.
WHO officials have also disputed claims that the organization delayed declaring the outbreak. According to the organization, reports of increased deaths surfaced on May 5, but laboratory testing did not confirm the Bundibugyo strain until May 15, after which public alerts were issued.
Health officials have emphasized that Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected symptomatic person, unlike respiratory viruses such as COVID-19. As a result, WHO officials have said large public gatherings, including sporting events, are unlikely to become major transmission settings.
The Trump administration says it has committed more than $160 million to the Ebola response and maintains that the likelihood of an outbreak in the United States remains low because of the precautions already in place.