Public health authorities report 17 travelers under monitoring in Houston and Harris County, with no confirmed cases, as the city prepares to host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Houston area has a new public dashboard to monitor potential Ebola-related risks ahead of the World Cup. Harris County Public Health and the Houston Health Department report 17 travelers under monitoring and no confirmed cases in Houston or Harris County.
The dashboard was published as a joint surveillance and health transparency tool. The available information includes data on monitored travelers, confirmed cases, symptoms, modes of transmission, prevention, and travel advisories related to the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
The dashboard reports 17 travelers under monitoring and no confirmed cases
The joint Houston and Harris County dashboard shows 17 travelers currently under monitoring, 0 travelers who have completed monitoring, and 17 travelers monitored in total.
The same update reports 0 currently confirmed cases and 0 total confirmed cases. The data pertain to Houston and Harris County, not the entire state of Texas.
The dashboard was last updated on June 3, 2026. Authorities indicate that the information will be updated weekly on Wednesdays at 4 p.m.
Traveler monitoring does not mean that a person has Ebola. According to local authorities, people are observed for 21 days after their last day in an affected region. Cases are only confirmed through laboratory tests conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, known as the CDC.
Ebola is not transmitted through air or casual contact
Harris County Public Health notes that Ebola does not spread through the air or casual contact. Transmission requires direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is ill with Ebola or has died from Ebola.
Bodily fluids can include blood, urine, stool, saliva, semen, and other secretions. The virus can enter the body through skin breaks or through the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Local authorities also indicate that a person can transmit the virus once symptoms are present. The risk to the general public in Houston and Harris County remains classified as low.
Symptoms may appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure. Early signs can include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, back pain, and sore throat.
In some cases, after several days, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, red eyes, hiccups, or bleeding may occur.
The World Cup increases health preparedness in Houston
Houston will be one of the venues for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and will host seven matches between June 14 and July 4. The local schedule includes the Portugal vs. DR Congo match on June 17.
The Texas Department of State Health Services, known as DSHS, reported in May that it is working with the CDC, FIFA, and local health departments to protect teams, spectators, and residents of Texas.
The same state alert noted that the Democratic Republic of the Congo team was scheduled to train in Houston and play a match in the city during the group stage.
Health authorities have stressed that the surveillance is not equivalent to a local emergency. The preparedness includes traveler monitoring, guidance for physicians, review of travel history, and coordination among public health agencies.
Doctors and hospitals must report suspected cases
The Houston Health Department asked doctors and health care providers to review the travel history of their patients, especially during the arrival of international visitors for the World Cup.
Providers should consider Ebola in patients with compatible symptoms who have been in affected areas and have risk factors. The DSHS alert also calls for isolating, testing when appropriate, and promptly reporting any suspected case.
In Houston, medical providers can report suspected cases to the Houston Health Department at 832-393-5080. Harris County Public Health also accepts reports at 832-927-7575 or 713-755-5050.
For general questions about Ebola, Harris County Public Health provides the number 832-927-7575, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Travelers from Ebola-affected zones face additional screening
DSHS reported that the CDC has implemented entry restrictions for people without U.S. passports who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days.
The measure also includes enhanced screening and monitoring for people arriving in the United States from affected areas.
The local Houston and Harris County dashboard will continue to publish the number of travelers under monitoring, travelers who completed the observation period, and confirmed cases, if any. The next regular update is Wednesday at 4 p.m.
