The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a level two alert advising Americans to take precautions before traveling to 31 countries where polio cases have been on the rise. People planning to visit these countries, including the United Kingdom and Spain, are urged to ensure they are up to date on their polio vaccines. A single-dose booster is available for eligible travelers in the US.
Polio, also known as poliomyelitis, was a significant childhood disease in the 20th century but saw a decline with the introduction of polio vaccines in the 1950s. However, recent weeks have shown a spike in cases in Europe and other regions, prompting the CDC to list several countries under the alert, including Finland, Germany, and Poland.
Travelers from the US to these nations are strongly recommended to get the polio vaccine booster to prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease. Polio is caused by the poliovirus, leading to potentially severe outcomes affecting the nervous system. Symptoms may include flu-like fevers, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, and sore throat. In severe cases, polio can result in paralysis, as seen in the history of US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Vaccination has played a crucial role in eradicating wild poliovirus in the US, with a standard four-dose series provided during childhood. In the UK, the polio vaccine is part of the NHS childhood vaccination schedule, requiring six doses for full protection at different stages from eight weeks to 14 years. British travelers may need booster vaccinations if their last vaccine was over a decade ago.
Amid the recent polio outbreak, US citizens are facing revised rules due to increasing vaccination hesitancy contributing to the resurgence of once-controlled diseases in the country. The listed countries where precautions are advised include Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gaza, Ghana, Guinea, Israel, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
