Travel Alerts

Health Alerts For Travelers During Winter 2019

Published

November 3, 2019

CDC health alerts inform international travelers about infectious disease risks in various countries

Australia (Precision Vaccinations News)

As the winter season takes hold of the chilly USA, warm beaches, as well as the Southern Hemisphere, become more appealing each day.

To help international travelers make informed pre-trip decisions, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its various Travel Alerts, as of November 3, 2019.

The CDC updated Travel Alerts for the following countries and related infectious diseases are as follows:

Level 3, Avoid Nonessential Travel

The Bahamas - September 12th
Venezuela - August 7th

Level 2, Practice Enhanced Precautions

The Democratic Republic of Congo - Ebola - October 29th
Japan - Rubella - August 7th
Nigeria - Yellow Fever - October 7th
Numerous countries - Polio - October 8th

Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions

Asia and the Pacific Islands - Dengue - October 29th
Mediterranean Region - Dengue - October 9th
Ethiopia - Chikungunya - October 8th
Americas - Dengue - October 8th

One of the most asked questions is 'what is the difference between routine, recommended, and required vaccines?'

The answer is generally based on the traveler's age, health, and itinerary.

According to the CDC, Routine vaccines are those that are recommended for everyone in the USA. You may think of these as the childhood vaccines you got before starting school.

But, some vaccines are routinely recommended for adults, like the adult pertussis booster Tdap, and some every year, like the flu shot.

A Required vaccine is one that travelers must have in order to enter a country, based on that country’s regulations. Yellow fever, meningococcal, and polio vaccines are often required by certain countries.

Recommended vaccines are those that the CDC suggests travelers get to protect their health, even if they aren't required for entry by the country you are visiting. For example, a typhoid vaccine can prevent typhoid, a serious disease spread by contaminated food and water, which is not usually found in the USA.

You can find some of the CDC’s most frequently asked travel vaccination questions and responses below:

1. What vaccines or medicines should I get before traveling to my destination?

Use the CDC destination search tool to find the vaccines and medications you need for your next trip, and schedule an appointment with a travel medicine specialist at least 1 month before traveling for real-world advice.

2. If I am going on a cruise that will stop in several countries, which vaccines are needed?

You should be up-to-date on routine vaccines, such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, and flu shot. Depending on where you’re going and what activities you plan, other vaccines may be recommended.

3. What are the prices of vaccines needed for travel outside the USA?

Vaccine prices vary by the healthcare provider and insurance coverage. You should be able to get routine vaccines from your primary provider, travel clinic, or pharmacist. And, the CDC’s Vaccines For Children program offers vaccines tp those who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay.

4. Which medications can I travel with?

When packing for trips abroad, don’t forget there may be special considerations for bringing your prescriptions and other medicines with you. Some medicines that are commonly prescribed or available over-the-counter in the USA can be illegal in other countries. Check with the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country you will be visiting to make sure your medicines are permitted in that country.

5. Check your measles immunity prior to departure.