CDC Confirms 69 Active Travel Alerts During 2019

A record number of Americans are forecasted to visit other countries during 2019, says the International Trade Administration (ITA).   

According to an August 2018 ITA report, the U.S. resident outbound market totaled 87.7 million in 2017, which was a 9 percent increase from 2016. 

And with the U.S. economy continuing to display signs of strengths, 2019 may be another record travel year. 

With so many Americans traveling abroad, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also kept pace by frequently issuing ‘Travel Alerts’. 

These CDC Travel Alerts are intended to keep Americans who are traveling oversees aware of potential health risks, recommended medicines and preventive vaccines. 

These health risks may arise from disease outbreaks, special gatherings, and natural disasters that may affect travelers’ during their trip. 

The CDC publishes 3 types of Travel Alerts.

As of February 3, 2019, the CDC had issued 69 Travel Alerts.

• Level 1:  Practice Usual Precautions = 23
• Level 2:  Practice Enhanced Precautions = 43
• Level 3:  Avoid Nonessential Travel = 3

The majority of the 2019 Travel Alerts focus on the ongoing Zika virus and measles outbreaks. 

The CDC says because a Zika infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects, pregnant women should not travel to the areas listed. And, partners of pregnant women and couples considering pregnancy should know the risks to pregnancy and take prevention steps. 

Unfortunately, there is not a preventive vaccine for Zika available today. But, there are several vaccine candidates in various stages of a clinical study.   

Separately, there are numerous measles outbreaks being reported around the world during 2019.   

The measles virus is often brought into the United States by unvaccinated people who become infected while visiting other countries, says the CDC. 

These international travelers then spread measles upon their return, which cause outbreaks in the USA. 

The CDC publishes country-specific pages, which identities the recommended vaccinations prior to visiting each country. 

International travelers can request a vaccine appointment and a medication review with a local pharmacy at Vax-Before-Travel.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information.

And, measles vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, similar to medications, can cause side effects, says the CDC. Significant vaccine side effects should be reported to the CDC.