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

CDC has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for 32 countries due to polio cases, urging travelers to ensure vaccinations are up to date.

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.

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

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.