The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have issued a Travel Health Notice warning U.S. tourists about the rise of a potentially fatal disease circulating in about 30 countries.

The Level 2 warning, which encourages travelers to “practice enhanced precautions,” says that serveral international destinations are circulating poliovirus or polio.

The countries where polio has been detected are:

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

Zimbabwe

The World Health Organization notes that polio is a “crippling and potentially deadly” disease that can invade the nervous system and cause paralysis. It is highly contagious and largely affects children under the age of five.

Polio is usually spread through fecal matter or through contaminated water or food. People infected with polio can spread it to others by not washing their hands after going to the bathroom.

People infected with polio usually experience mild symptoms if any. These can include fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, stiffness in the neck and back, and pain in the arms and legs.

The symptoms last for two to ten days. Most people recover completely, but in some cases the virus causes paralysis, usually in the legs. In some cases it is fatal if the brain is infected or if the muscles used for breathing become paralyzed.

There is no known cure for polio, but it can be prevented via vaccination. To that end, the CDC encourages travelers to any of the listed countries to be sure they are up to date on their latest polio vaccines.

In addition, adults who previously completed the full series of the vaccine can receive a single booster dose if they are traveling to one of these countries.

The CDC also encourages good hand-washing practices to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Is your Dunkin’ order safe from the federal government?

Why are some Pa. malls thriving while others are crumbling?

Cumberland County company to be purchased for $3.9B by group led by co-founder

Read the original article on pennlive.com. Add pennlive.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.