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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel alert for 32 countries, advising American travelers to "practice enhanced precautions" against polio, as many make their Spring Break travel plans.
Countries Under A Level 2 Travel Alert
The CDC’s Level 2 travel advisory list includes popular destinations such as Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany.
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The full list of countries:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Ethiopia
- Finland
- Gaza
- Germany
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Israel
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Poland
- Senegal
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Spain
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- United Kingdom
- Yemen
- Zimbabwe
...
Why The CDC Has Issued A Level 2 Travel Warning
The CDC has issued a Level 2 travel warning for "global Polio," which means travelers should "Practice Enhanced Precautions."
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects the nervous system. The virus spreads mainly through contact with contaminated feces, as well as unsafe food or water, making hand hygiene and food safety important preventive measures while traveling.
The CDC warns that although many people don’t feel particularly ill or just experience mild flu-like symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, nausea, congestion, and neck and back stiffness—which can last between two and five days—the virus can be deadly. In rare cases, polio can affect the spinal cord or brain, causing permanent paralysis, which can be fatal if it paralyzes respiratory muscles or enters the brain. It can also trigger meningitis, with 1 in 5 people getting meningitis from polio, depending on the virus strain.
The Traveler reported that health officials found traces of the polio virus in sewage samples—not in sick patients—which shows that the virus is circulating quietly without causing obvious cases.
What People Should Do Before They Travel
The agency advises travelers planning to visit any of the 32 at‑risk countries to ensure they are up to date on polio vaccinations. It says adults who have completed their routine polio vaccine series may receive a single lifetime booster dose if traveling to destinations where poliovirus is circulating and they have not previously received an adult booster.
What Happens Next
Travelers planning spring and summer trips are encouraged to review their immunization records, consult clinicians about boosters, and practice rigorous hand hygiene routines to prevent the spread of the polio virus.
The list of affected countries may change as surveillance updates emerge, so travelers should also monitor official advisories during their trip planning and while they’re abroad.
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