CDC Warns Travelers About Rising Global Risk in New Health Advisory

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its global travel alert for polio, warning Americans against the spread of the disease.

The advisory, which was last updated this week, classifies the polio virus as “Level 2,” encouraging Americans to “practice enhanced precautions” when traveling internationally. Countries with circulating poliovirus include popular destinations like Finland, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Kenya.

“Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines,” the CDC wrote in its advisory. “Before travel to any destination listed below, adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series may receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.”

Most people who contract polio don’t feel sick and experience minor symptoms like fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, a sore throat, a cough, stiffness in their neck and back, and pain in their arms and legs. However, polio could cause more serious symptoms in rare cases, including permanent loss of muscle function, which the CDC said could be “fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain.”

Beyond just getting vaccinated, the CDC recommends travelers practice good hand washing and take precautions to drink non-contaminated water. 

In addition to polio, the CDC issued a warning for the chikungunya virus in both China’s Guangdong Province (which was updated last week) and in Bolivia. The virus is spread by mosquitoes and while the most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, the CDC said travelers “at risk for more severe disease include newborns infected around the time of birth, older adults (65 years or older), and people with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.” The agency recommended pregnant people avoid traveling to affected areas, especially if they are close to delivering, since the virus can be passed to the baby if the parent becomes infected.

The CDC said travelers heading to these areas should get vaccinated, use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning or with screens on the windows and doors. 

The CDC also monitors other global diseases like dengue fever, which is currently classified as “Level 1” concern, along with measles, yellow fever, and more. Currently, the CDC has not issued any “Level 3” or “Level 4” advisories, which recommend travelers reconsider nonessential travel or avoid all travel to the destination, respectively.