The United States Centers for Disease Control is urging citizens to take increased caution while traveling abroad to 32 foreign countries, including many popular travel destinations, due to the spread of a potentially fatal disease.
Countries included in the advisory were listed as “Level 2″ out four, which means that the CDC recommends that travelers “practice enhanced precautions” while visiting. They also shared advice for anyone headed to one of the listed destinations.
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The advisory was issued due to the spread of polio, a “crippling and potentially deadly” disease.
A map included in the travel advisory indicates the countries where polio has been detected in the last year. The listed countries are spread across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Western Pacific.
No countries across North and South America were on the map.
Notable locations include Spain and Germany, both of which were named amongst the 10 most popular travel destinations in Europe in a 2025 poll conducted by Forbes. Other destinations include the United Kingdom, Finland, Poland, Israel and Sudan.
The complete list is: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Finland, Gaza, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Israel, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Yemen and Zimbabwe.
The CDC recommended that anyone visiting the listed countries ensure that they are up to date on their polio vaccinations. Any adults who are already fully vaccinated are able to get a booster shot before travel.
Per the CDC, “most people” infected with polio, which targets the nervous system, are unlikely to experience symptoms. Minor symptoms include the likes of fever, nausea, congestion, a sore throat.
“In rare cases, polio infection causes permanent loss of muscle function (paralysis). Polio can be fatal if the muscles used for breathing are paralyzed or if there is an infection of the brain,” the CDC warned.
The polio virus is transmitted via contact with the feces of an infected person, emphasizing the importance of proper handwashing. However, the CDC warned that people can contract the disease if they drink or eat anything that’s been contaminated.
