Seattle Health Officials Prepare for Disease Risks as Hundreds of Thousands of World Cup Visitors Arrive

Dr. John Lynch, associate chief medical officer at Harborview Medical Center, said the region is already seeing elevated levels of respiratory illness heading into the tournament. “We are still seeing a lot of respiratory viruses, including cold viruses and rhinovirus, as we enter into the summer season here in the Pacific Northwest,” Lynch said. He encouraged both residents and visitors to ensure they are up to date on recommended vaccinations before attending matches or large fan gatherings. “My recommendations are to make sure you are up to date with all recommended vaccines and to consider wearing a mask or respirator such as an N95 or similar whenever in a crowded indoor or outdoor setting,” Lynch said.

UW Medicine has also strengthened its capacity to respond to disease cases during the tournament. The Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Department recently brought a new diagnostic instrument online that enables rapid testing of patient specimens for a broad range of infectious conditions. The instrument is located in Renton, near Seattle-area airports, positioning it to support timely identification of potential cases arriving through international travel.

King County’s measles situation adds additional context to the preparations. Two confirmed measles cases have been recorded in King County residents so far in 2026, and Public Health Seattle and King County has already been monitoring potential exposures at multiple sites across the region. With the MMR vaccine highly effective at preventing measles, health officials are using the World Cup as an opportunity to remind residents to verify their immunisation status before attending crowded events.