Public Health and Vaccines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a "Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions" alert warning of circulating poliovirus in more than 30 countries, including Spain, the United Kingdom and Germany, as spring break travel increases. Published earlier this week, the advisory urges all Americans to ensure adults and children are up to date on polio vaccination before any international trip, and says adults who previously completed the routine series may receive a single lifetime booster dose if traveling to affected nations. CDC notes that poliovirus can be crippling or fatal by attacking the nervous system and spreads primarily via fecal contamination, including through unwashed hands, food or water. The agency also stresses basic hygiene such as thorough handwashing to reduce transmission risk, and warns that many infected people may have no or only mild, flu‑like symptoms even as they spread the virus. The alert reflects ongoing concern about pockets of polio circulation worldwide and comes as U.S. vaccination gaps and higher post‑pandemic travel volumes have public‑health experts watching for importation risks.