Statistics foresee that in the World Cup in Russia, a total of about three million people will participate in the eleven host cities that cover a large geographical area and areas with very different climatic conditions. We are in summer, a time when the heat increases the episodes of gastroenteritis, not to mention heat stroke and other ailments associated with high temperatures.
In addition, given that we are talking about a massive event that brings together people from all over the globe, it is worth wondering if the World Cup could be a source of the spread of diseases. For example, in some macro outdoor festivals there have been outbreaks of infections and diseases such as influenza or measles due to the crowding of people, often in hygienic conditions that leave much to be desired. Another risk factor to consider is that many people travel to the country of destination without receiving the recommended vaccines , so it can also cause a higher incidence of certain diseases.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Natalia Pshenichnaya, from Rostov State University (Russia), publishes a note on the matter in the journal Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease . In it, it analyzes the possible risks to be considered by travelers who attend the World Cup and issues a series of recommendations.
For the tranquility of the most hypochondriacs, the authors do not find in this event a special risk of contagion of infectious diseases, it is enough to follow certain safety and common sense rules such as drinking bottled water and avoiding consuming food that does not guarantee minimum conditions hygiene to avoid gastroenteritis.
The researchers also point out that some of the World Cup host cities are within regions where there is a high potential for viral encephalitis (TBE) and borreliosis. These are two diseases that are transmitted by tick bites, and many areas of central and northern Europe have a real problem with this issue. In Russia there are more than 6,000 cases of borreliosis each year and about 2,000 of TBE. Also, summer is an especially dangerous time of year.
Beware of ticks
In any case, in cities there is hardly any risk of contagion, so only travelers who take advantage of their stay in Russia to go on excursions through the countryside should be careful with this. To avoid contagion, it is best to cover your body well and walk through open paths: often ticks are found on the leaves of the bushes and take advantage of the passage of cattle or humans to hook on your body. It is also good to check the body well after leaving: the chances of contagion increase the more hours the tick is attached to our skin. There are also specific repellants and vaccines against some types of TBE (in the case of borreliosis there is no vaccine), although the authors do not recommend getting vaccinated if you are not visiting rural areas.
The work also refers to sexually transmitted diseases. It is estimated that more than 1% of the population living in the Saint Petersburg region is HIV positive, a rate slightly higher than that observed in the rest of Europe. Furthermore, Russia is a country with an intermediate endemicity of hepatitis B and C. In this sense, the recommendations once again appeal to common sense: avoid risky sex and use a condom.
The researchers also remind that it is necessary to have up-to-date vaccinations to prevent the spread of diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Although the risk of acquiring these diseases is very low, the trip can be a good time to catch up on the vaccination record and find out about other additional vaccines that may be recommended depending on the destination and the type of activities that are being carried out. are going to perform.
What has happened in other competitions?
The authors reviewed other massive sporting events and found little evidence of outbreaks of infection, with the exception of a flu outbreak that affected 36 participants at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City (USA) and a small outbreak of gastroenteritis suffered by one of the teams that played a sailing competition prior to the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
In short: if you are in Russia these days to enjoy the FIFA World Cup, simply follow the same typical safety recommendations on any trip. So, don’t worry, and enjoy soccer!
Reference: Pshenichnaya et al. 2018. Football fever in Russia: Infectious disease risks and the FIFA world cup 2018. Travel Med Infect Dis. doi: 10.1016 / j.tmaid.2018.06.010
