Going Abroad? CDC Warns Travelers About Polio Risk in Several Countries

Follow Drugslib on

By HealthDay Staff HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on March 10, 2026.

via HealthDay

TUESDAY, March 10, 2026 — Travelers heading overseas may want to check their vaccination records first.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges people to make sure their polio vaccines are up to date before traveling internationally.

The warning comes after the virus has been detected in several parts of the world during the past year, including the United Kingdom and Germany.

On March 3, the CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice, advising travelers to take extra precautions. The agency says poliovirus is circulating in countries across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

The full list includes:

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cameroon
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Ethiopia
  • Gaza
  • Germany
  • Guinea
  • Israel
  • Laos
  • Namibia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Poland
  • Senegal
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • United Kingdom
  • Yemen

    • Polio is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and can cause permanant disability, officials say.

    Many people infected with the virus may not feel sick. But some develop symptoms such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headaches and muscle stiffness.

    In severe cases, the disease can cause paralysis or death, especially if the muscles used to breathe stop functioning.

    The virus spreads mainly through contaminated food or water. It can also spread when people do not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom, since the virus lives in infected stool.

    The CDC says vaccination is the most effective way to prevent polio.

    Kids and adults should make sure they are fully vaccinated before traveling abroad, the agency says.

    Adults who have already completed the recommended vaccine series may also receive one lifetime booster shot if they are traveling to a place where the virus is circulating.

    Travelers who have never been vaccinated or who did not complete the series should do so before leaving the country, the CDC advises.

    Polio is very rare in the United States because vaccination rates are high. But traveling to areas where the virus is still circulating can increase the risk of exposure.

    Sources

  • USA Today, March 5, 2026

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2026-03-11 01:42

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords