Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is offering a free hotline to assist providers in Texas with diagnosis, management, and/or public health navigation for suspected infections related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup events.

World Cup Infectious Diseases Consultation Hotline

Call the hotline: 866-213-3368

Available 24/7 through July 31, 2026

• Staffed by adult and pediatric infectious disease specialists within the University of Texas Health System
• Designed for licensed Texas physicians and World Cup team providers in Texas
• Provides clinical recommendations to treating physician or other clinician, who retains full clinical decision-making authority
• Recommends clinical or public health escalation when necessary

Note: The hotline does not replace existing infectious disease consultation processes or the requirement to report suspected disease cases to public health. Treating physicians and other clinicians retain clinical responsibility for all patient care decisions and responsibility for prompt notification to public health entities.

Get support with: 

• Concerns about viral hemorrhagic fever (e.g., Lassa fever, Ebola) or high-consequence infectious disease (e.g., monkeypox, MERS, hantavirus)
• Diagnosis when evaluating a febrile patient with recent foreign or domestic travel
• Clinical management or treatment for a suspected travel-associated infection
• Antimicrobial resistance related to a recent traveler
• Severe respiratory illness with recent animal or travel exposures

The hotline is not for:

• Patients or members of the public
• Physicians and other clinicians treating patients outside of Texas (In such situations, please consult your local health department.)  
• Routine illnesses or illnesses not related to World Cup
• Administrative or billing questions

What to Expect When You Call

Step 1: A nurse will answer the hotline and obtain basic information and will then route the physician or other clinician to an appropriate infectious disease consultant. The nurse will remain on the line to document the call. 

Step 2: The infectious disease consultant will provide clinical recommendations, which may include a recommendation to notify local health authorities. The physician or other clinician retains full clinical decision-making authority.

Step 3: If referral to public health entity is appropriate, the treating physician or other clinician will be directed to contact the appropriate entity (see list of Texas Local Public Health Organizations). If requested, the infectious disease consultant may provide additional clinical or public health escalation guidance.

Information to Have Ready When You Call:

• Treating physician or other clinician name, title, and facility
• Reason for suspected World Cup-related consultation
• Patient location and demographic information (i.e., patient age, date of birth, sex, patient location and address. If the patient resides outside of Texas, location of the treating facility will be used to notify public health.)
• Detailed patient travel history with dates and locations
• Clinical presentation and relevant findings

Download the DSHS List of Health Conditions or Incidents for World Cup

Download the World Cup Infectious Disease Consultation Hotline flyer

Additional Resources

DSHS World Cup Public Webpage

Texas 2026 Notifiable Conditions List

Texas Local Public Health Organizations

Texas Ready

Poison Control:
For health care providers and local health jurisdictions:

• Poison Help Line: 1-800-222-1222
• List of Regional Poison Centers
• For additional questions or requesting data, contact the Texas Department of State Health Services Environmental Surveillance and Toxicology Branch at epitox@dshs.texas.gov