Public health agency says World Cup poses high risk of measles spread – CTV
May 14, 2026
OTTAWA — There is a high risk of measles transmission within Canada during the FIFA World Cup, an analysis by the Public Health Agency of Canada warned Thursday.
The federal agency completed its infectious disease risk assessment as officials prepare for thousands of players, staff and fans to converge on Toronto and Vancouver next month.
Health officials analyzed 14 pathogens that could be imported during the games, including avian and swine flu, mpox, Ebola virus, poliovirus and measles.
Measles is the agency’s top source of concern because of how widespread it is around the world and how easily the disease is transmitted through the air.
Mpox virus is next on the list but it poses only a moderate risk because it’s spread to close contacts like sexual partners or people in the same household.
“Measles is estimated to have a high likelihood of importation,” said the analysis, which also warned of “moderate impact on the population of a host city.”
