Polio risk rising globally: CDC issues travel advisory for 32 countries; full list

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel advisory for 32 different Middle Eastern, African, and European countries in March 2026. The warning was issued by the CDC due to cases of polio spreading among the populations in the impacted areas.

This 2014 illustration made available by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention depicts a polio virus particle. CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for 32 countries due to polio cases, urging travelers to ensure vaccinations are up to date. (AP)

The advisory, released ahead of the busy spring travel season, places the countries under a Level 2 alert, which means travelers should “practice enhanced precautions,” including ensuring their polio vaccinations are up to date, according to the CDC’s travel health notice system.

Read more: New CDC vaccine schedule and guidelines: Which shots are no longer recommended?

Full list of the countries under the level 2 travel advisory

Popular holiday destinations, including Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany, are included on the CDC’s Level 2 travel alert list. Here are the other countries on the list:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. Algeria
  3. Angola
  4. Benin
  5. Burkina Faso
  6. Cameroon
  7. Central African Republic
  8. Chad
  9. Côte d’Ivoire
  10. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  11. Djibouti
  12. Ethiopia
  13. Finland
  14. Gaza
  15. Germany
  16. Ghana
  17. Guinea
  18. Israel
  19. Niger
  20. Nigeria
  21. Pakistan
  22. Papua New Guinea
  23. Poland
  24. Senegal
  25. Somalia
  26. South Sudan
  27. Spain
  28. Sudan
  29. Tanzania
  30. United Kingdom
  31. Yemen
  32. Zimbabwe

Read more: World Polio Day 2025: All on deadly disease and global efforts to eradicate it

What travelers should know before visiting these countries?

The CDC says travelers who are fully vaccinated against polio may still be advised to receive a single lifetime booster dose before traveling to areas where the virus is circulating.

Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that predominantly affects the neurological system. The virus spreads mostly through contact with contaminated feces, as well as dangerous food or water; thus, hand cleanliness and food safety are crucial precautions to take when traveling.

Hence, health authorities stress that the advisory does not mean travelers should cancel trips, but rather take preventive steps such as vaccination, good hygiene practices, and safe food and water consumption.

To avoid the transmission of the polio virus, travelers planning spring and summer trips should examine their immunization records, consult specialists about boosters, and adhere to strict hand hygiene habits.

The list of countries at risk may change as surveillance updates become available, so passengers should stay up to speed on official advisories both before and during their journey.

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