US State Department Issues Travel Advisory for the United Kingdom

The US State Department issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory, Exercise Increase Precautions, for Americans visiting the United Kingdom.

This Travel Advisory was issued on December 17, 2018, saying terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in the United Kingdom (UK). 

And, terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations in the UK, such as transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting, and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. 

Previously, on December 3rd, the US Embassy in London issued an alert saying ‘During the holiday season security measures in the United Kingdom remain heightened due to ongoing threats posed by transnational terrorist organizations and individuals inspired by extremist ideology throughout Europe.’   

The US State Department says if you decide to travel to the United Kingdom:

• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations,
• Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues,
• Follow the instructions of local authorities, and,
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 

Additionally, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Level 1 Travel Alert on May 2, 2018, recommending that travelers to England protect themselves by making sure they are vaccinated against measles with the MMR vaccine. 

The UK’s measles outbreak has been related to the measles cases reported in Israel and New York City metro area.   

Measles is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. Measles virus is highly contagious and can remain so for up to 2 hours in the air, or on surfaces. 

Additionally, the CDC recommends visitors to the United Kingdom are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, polio, and yearly influenza vaccination. 

And, some UK visitors should be immunized for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and rabies. 

In the USA, international travelers can easily request a vaccine counseling session appointment at a local pharmacy at Vax-Before-Travel.   

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

And, vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, says the CDC. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.