During social media monitoring, Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, observed a surge in discussions about gastrointestinal issues originating from Seattle, one of the North American cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We noted a concerning increase in people discussing these symptoms,” Jetelina, CEO of Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE), shared with CIDRAP News. “We shared this observation with the wastewater surveillance team at the Health Security Operations Center (HSCO), and it coincided with a significant spike in adenovirus detected in the Seattle area. This information was then passed on to local and state public health departments.”
Jetelina, who utilizes social media for early detection of infectious disease trends through YLE’s Project Stethoscope, is among nearly two dozen experts collaborating with HSCO to enhance public health readiness for the World Cup. This major FIFA tournament features over 100 matches across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The concept for HSCO, a joint initiative between Georgetown University and MedStar Health, was conceived by Rebecca Katz, PhD, MPH, Director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University. Her inspiration stemmed from observing the public health planning efforts preceding the World Cup, which began on June 12 and concludes on July 19.
“I closely examined the preparedness measures and recognized the inherent complexities of the situation, noting that the distribution of resources and attention wasn’t aligning with our initial expectations,” Katz explained. “This realization sparked the idea for HSCO.”
HSCO disseminates daily situation reports and conducts regular calls to address public health risks in the vicinity of host cities and team base camps. The team has also incorporated additional data streams, such as information from an airport exposure tracker, into their reports.
Upon identifying public health indicators, like increased social media conversations about digestive complaints and elevated adenovirus levels in wastewater in Seattle, HSCO promptly notifies local public health officials. “Their response was swift and thorough,” Jetelina noted. “This exemplifies the collaborative nature of public health, where HSCO plays a crucial role in supporting and streamlining the efforts of others.”
### Innovative Strategies for Identifying Public Health Alerts
HSCO is employing advanced monitoring tools, including wastewater surveillance and Project Stethoscope, to proactively detect potential public health concerns across North America during the World Cup.
“We’ve applied lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jetelina stated. “This involves partnerships between academic institutions like Georgetown, private entities like YLE, and public health departments, all united by a common objective.”
Jetelina attributes Katz’s leadership to fostering creative public health approaches, such as social listening, which incorporates “community insights and concerns being voiced on the ground.”
This data is then shared by Jetelina with HSCO and local public health authorities. “Integrating this information with traditional data sources has been an incredibly innovative and rewarding process,” she commented.
The deployment of these emerging technologies during the World Cup provides Katz and her team with valuable insights into their effectiveness, which can inform future public health applications. “Given that these methods haven’t been implemented on such a large scale, established protocols for interpreting wastewater data are still developing,” Katz explained. “We are essentially creating a real-time case study library.”
### Resourceful Funding and Support for HSOC
Katz has strategically managed HSCO’s budget, which does not receive federal funding. “The financial aspect of this operation is best described as resourceful,” she remarked. “It involves creativity and a commitment to finding workable solutions.”
The operational budget has been assembled through a combination of her research grants, contributions from foundations like Pax sapiens, the partnership with MedStar, and in-kind data donations from private sector organizations including Verily, Biobot, SecureBio, YLE, and Wastewater Scan.
“These organizations have demonstrated their belief in our mission by providing direct access to their data,” Katz elaborated.
Currently, HSCO comprises 22 staff members. “It’s accurate to say that everyone at HSOC is compensated, though likely below market rates,” Katz acknowledged. “There’s a strong dedication to this effort and a willingness to contribute, even with the available resources.”
Federal agencies, including task forces at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State, are also monitoring public health trends during the World Cup, according to Katz.
Reference