Polio Alerts Issued for Asia and Eastern Europe Countries

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a travel advisory for Asia and Eastern Europe regarding polio outbreaks.

On March 16, 2022, the CDC's Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions, Alert stated, 'The following destinations are currently considered high risk for polio outbreaks: Afghanistan, areas in Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Yemen.'

Previously, the CDC issued a travel advisory for several destinations in Africa currently considered high risk for polio.

Furthermore, the World Health Organization announced on Mar. 11, 2021, 'that the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.'

This map (updated on Mar. 15th) shows the latest number of WPV1 and cVDPV polio cases in each affected country.

The good news is polio can be preventive via vaccination.

However, most travel vaccines - including polio - need to be administered at least one month before departure to ensure maximum protection. 

'Before traveling to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose.'

Specifically, adult travelers that previously completed the entire routine polio vaccine series or have not yet received an adult booster dose, and are going to any of the destinations listed above, should receive a booster dose.

Even those sick with polio previously may need a booster dose of a polio vaccine.

A list of polio vaccines is posted on this webpage.

Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly disease that affects the nervous system. 

Some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, stiffness in the neck and back, and pain in the arms and legs. In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function.

Polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain, says the CDC.

Other polio outbreak travel news is posted at Vax-Before-Travel.com/polio.

Note: These CDC advisories were edited for clarity and curated for mobile readers.