Travelling to these countries can put you at risk: CDC issues Level 2 alert for Germany, UK, and others amid rising poliovirus concerns
This highly contagious virus spreads through airborne droplets and fecal contamination, targeting the nervous system. While most infected individuals show no symptoms, severe cases can cause muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, paralysis, or even death if breathing muscles are affected. The CDC urges travellers to ensure they are up to date on polio vaccinations or get a booster before visiting these countries to reduce the risk of infection and prevent potential outbreaks.
CDC issues travel warning as polio cases surge in popular countries
Polio often remains undetected in infected individuals, with the majority showing no immediate symptoms. However, in severe cases, the virus can trigger:
Muscle weakness and stiffness
Painful spasms and difficulty swallowing
Partial or full-body paralysis
When polio affects the respiratory muscles, it can cause lung paralysis, making breathing impossible without medical assistance, and may lead to death.
Polio was officially eradicated from the United States in 1979, following widespread vaccination campaigns launched in the 1950s.
Since then, only sporadic cases have emerged, usually linked to international travel. Globally, polio has been detected in 39 countries and territories over the past year, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. In the affected European countries, routine vaccination is available, but virus traces may have been found in wastewater samples from individuals with no symptoms, indicating silent community spread.
CDC's travel advisory and vaccination recommendations
The
CDC
advises all Americans travelling to affected countries to take enhanced precautions:
Ensure you are up to date on polio vaccinations
Consider a booster shot before travel
Maintain strict hand hygiene during your trip
Polio vaccination in the US typically includes four doses by age six, offering lifelong protection. However, adults visiting high-risk areas may need an additional booster dose.
Affected countries under poliovirus: Travel advisory alert
These destinations are affected by circulating poliovirus:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Côte d'Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Ethiopia
Finland
French Guiana
Gaza
Germany
Ghana
Guinea
Indonesia
Israel
Kenya
Liberia
Niger
Nigeria
Papua New Guinea
Poland
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Pakistan
Spain
Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
United Kingdom
Yemen
Zimbabwe
Past epidemics and present day warnings highlight the need for polio vigilance
Before vaccines, polio was one of the most feared diseases worldwide. In 1947, outbreaks filled hospital wards with children in wheelchairs or confined to iron lungs.
One well-known survivor, Paul Alexander of Texas, contracted polio at age six and lived most of his life inside an iron lung breathing machine before his death in 2024 at 78.
In the US, the last confirmed case occurred in 2022 in an unvaccinated adult in Rockland County, New York. This case led to the discovery of 21 positive wastewater samples in surrounding counties, signaling ongoing low-level circulation. Global Outlook and Prevention Efforts
While wild poliovirus has been eliminated from most developed nations, vaccine-derived strains can still appear in under-vaccinated populations.
Public health experts stress that high immunization rates are the best defense.
The CDC continues to urge travellers to complete vaccination schedules, get boosters if necessary, and practice good hygiene to help prevent polio's return on a global scale.
How Polio spreads
Poliovirus is transmitted primarily through:
Airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing
Fecal contamination, especially in areas with poor sanitation
The virus targets the spinal cord and brain stem, destroying nerve cells and impairing muscle control. Even in regions declared polio-free, such as the European Union in 2002, virus traces have been detected in wastewater — as was the case in the UK in 2022.
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