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The 2018 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Russia from 14 June - 15 July; beginning in Moscow. Russia has eleven host cities around the country taking part in this sporting event, including the city of Kaliningrad, in Kaliningrad Oblast, an exclave of Russia, found between Poland and Lithuania.
The following information has been compiled to highlight the main issues that practitioners should consider when advising travellers planning to travel to Russia to attend the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The potential health risks will vary between individuals attending the World Cup depending on the amount of time spent in Russia, further travel around the country, onward travel to another destination and leisure pursuits.
Other general risk factors will also be taken into account e.g. age, pre-existing illness, medical treatment, pregnancy etc.
It is strongly recommended that all travellers ensure that they obtain adequate personal insurance (including cover for repatriation if necessary) when travelling. There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, therefore the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in Russia. Medical treatment can be very costly and the British Embassy cannot help with payment.
Travellers should be advised to consider their personal safety during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this includes reducing the risk of robbery, injury, assault and road traffic accidents.
Advice on personal safety is detailed on the Foreign Commonwealth Office 'Be on the Ball: World Cup 2018' page and should be discussed with every traveller.
LGBT+ travellers should be aware that public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK. A blog offering advice to LGBT+ football fans has been published on the Football Supporters Federation website
Further information and advice on safety/security, terrorism, natural disasters, local laws and customs can be accessed on the Foreign Office website Foreign travel advice for Russia
During the World Cup many stadia and surrounding areas are likely to be crowded. This increases the risk of both respiratory and gastrointestinal illness. Food and water precautions should be discussed with all travellers. When in crowded areas travellers should be advised to:
The pre travel consultation provides a good opportunity to check a traveller's history of National Schedule vaccines. Ensure primary courses and recommended boosters have been received for life in UK. In particular: influenza and pneumococcal for those in risk groups and MMR (see notes below).
It is well recognised that large gatherings including sporting events have been responsible for the transmission of infectious diseases such as measles. Measles is easily transmitted by air-borne droplets among large numbers of individuals in close contact.
Measles outbreaks continue to be reported in EU/EEA and neighbouring countries. The countries which reported most cases were Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, France and Greece. 843 measles cases have been reported in Russia between 1st January and 31 March 2018.
Travellers should ensure that they are protected against measles by immunisation (if they have not had previous natural infection) to ensure that they do not transmit infection from the UK or acquire infection whilst abroad and cause further transmission. Discussion of measles immune status should be included in the travel consultation and risk assessment.
Carriage of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the local population in Russia is considered to be intermediate (2-7%). The risk of HBV should be discussed during the travel consultation, including transmission routes.
Whilst not a 'usually recommended' vaccine it should be considered for those extending their stay beyond the World Cup and travelling to more remote/rural areas for more adventurous pursuits. Discussing the risk of HBV from sexual contact, tattooing, body piercing, sharing drug injecting equipment, may identify some travellers who would benefit from pre-exposure hepatitis B vaccination.
Travellers with medical conditions that could require medical intervention in an emergency situation e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, malignant disease, blood disorders, may be at greater risk of hepatitis B while travelling.
Russia is designated by WHO as a 'high risk' country for rabies in terrestrial animals. For a short trip to attend the World Cup only, awareness of the rabies risk and the advice to avoid contact with animals and report any bites, may be all that is required. All bats are a potential rabies risk.
Travellers should be advised that if bitten by any warm blooded animal while in Russia, there may be a rabies risk and they should seek medical help immediately and not wait until they return home.
Post-exposure prophylaxis should be available in the cities where the stadia are located.
Rabies pre-exposure should be considered for those extending their stay beyond the World Cup and travelling to more remote/rural areas for more adventurous pursuits (particularly caving) where access to post-exposure prophylaxis may be problematic.
TBE is spread through the bite of infected ticks and less commonly by ingestion of unpasteurised milk/milk products. Whilst not a 'usually recommended' vaccine it should be considered for those extending their stay beyond the World Cup and travelling to more remote/rural areas for more adventurous pursuits where contact with long grass and ticks could occur e.g. camping and hiking. For visitors going only to World Cup venues, vaccine is not indicated. View the Russia Federation country record for further information on risk areas within Russia.
Discussing sexually transmitted infections (STI) can be difficult but it should be a normal part of the travel consultation. There are certain factors that may increase the risk for travellers:
View the Russia country record for information on the complete list of disease risks.
Travellers returning home with a fever or feeling generally unwell should contact their GP for advice, ensuring they tell the GP that they have been in Russia and activities undertaken while there.
If travellers have been hospitalised in Russia, and subsequently need hospital care in the UK, it is important to disclose this to the treatinghealthcare practitioners as antibiotic resistance can be imported to the UK after hospital treatment overseas.
Any animal bites sustained abroad and resulting treatment, should be reported to the GP as there may be follow up treatment required. If a traveller is bitten by any warm blooded animal while in Russia, they should seek medical attention immediately and not wait until they return to the UK.
Travellers who have put themselves at risk of STIs or other blood-borne infections should consult with their GP or sexual health clinic on return to discuss concerns and exclude/treat any infection and prevent any spread to subsequent sexual partners.
