Recently, federal health officials have raised alarms about a serious and potentially deadly disease making a comeback in several parts of the world.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel warnings for countries like the UK, Germany, Finland, Poland, and Spain after detecting cases of polio—a virus many thought was nearly eradicated in developed nations.
What Is Polio and Why Does It Matter?
Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious virus that mainly targets the nervous system.
It spreads easily through airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes, and also through contact with infected feces.
For most people, polio hides silently without causing symptoms.
But in severe cases, it can cause muscle weakness, stiffness, painful spasms, difficulty swallowing, and even full-body paralysis.
Most dangerously, polio can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, which can be fatal without medical intervention.
Polio’s History and Current Status in the US and Worldwide
The US declared polio wiped out back in 1979, after vaccines had been widely used for about two decades.
Since then, only a handful of sporadic cases have popped up.
But across the globe, polio has been found in 39 countries and territories over the last year, particularly in parts of Africa and the Middle East.
Interestingly, the virus may be detected even in people who don’t show symptoms—through testing wastewater, for example—which helps health officials track its presence.
What Does the CDC Recommend for Travelers?
With these recent detections, the CDC has issued a level 2 travel advisory.
This means if you’re heading to any of the countries where polio is active, you should be especially careful.
The CDC stresses the importance of being fully vaccinated against polio before traveling and suggests getting a booster shot if necessary.
“Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines,” the agency advises.
Europe’s Polio Situation: A Closer Look
The UK’s last known polio case was in 1984, but the virus was detected in wastewater there as recently as 2022.
The World Health Organization declared the whole European region polio-free in 2002, but these new findings show the virus can still linger silently and potentially re-emerge.
How Does Polio Affect the Body?
The poliovirus attacks nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain stem, which control muscle movements and bodily functions.
While about 90% of infected people never develop symptoms, some experience mild flu-like signs such as fever, headache, sore throat, and nausea—this is called “abortive polio.”
About 5% suffer from nonparalytic polio, which includes more serious symptoms like neck stiffness and muscle weakness.
The most severe form is paralytic polio, causing intense pain, muscle spasms, twitching, and paralysis.
Paralysis can affect any part of the body, and if it reaches respiratory muscles, it can be life-threatening.
Polio’s Recent US Cases and Vaccination Efforts
The last confirmed polio case in the US happened in 2022, involving an unvaccinated adult near New York City.
Symptoms included fever, stiff neck, and abdominal pain.
Following that case, testing of wastewater in the surrounding counties found traces of the virus, but no other confirmed infections.
Currently, about 92.5% of American children have received at least three doses of the polio vaccine.
Kids get a total of four doses by age six, which usually grants lifelong protection. For adults traveling to high-risk areas, extra booster doses may be recommended.
Simple Steps to Stay Safe From Polio
The CDC recommends that travelers to polio-affected regions get a booster vaccine and practice good hygiene, especially frequent handwashing, to reduce the risk of infection and stop the virus from spreading.