At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, set to take place in northern Italy from February 6-22, it’s not just excitement and anticipation that can be contagious. With around 2,900 athletes competing and more than a million tickets sold, this global phenomenon can also pose a heightened risk of catching an infectious disease.
The flu, COVID, measles, norovirus, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the top conditions to look out for, warns Shelley Kon, MD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Medicine and medical director of infection prevention and control at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This is especially true for athletes who are temporarily living in Olympic Villages, she explains.
The 2026 Olympics is already making history. It is the first Games to have two official host cities — Milano and Cortina — and is the most geographically widespread in Olympic history, spanning over 22,000 square kilometers (equivalent to roughly 8,494 square miles). Given how widespread the Games are, there are six Olympic Villages for athletes this year.
“Whenever you get large crowds gathering, and especially living in close quarters, you do have a risk for infectious diseases to spread,” she says.
We recently spoke with Kon to learn about which infections might make an appearance at this year’s Games and the steps that Olympians and international travelers alike can take to protect their health.
The following interview has been edited and condensed.