Special Report

Be Very Careful Traveling to These Places, Says the CDC

JohnnyGreig / E+ via Getty Images

While the State Department issues travel notices to those thinking of traveling abroad about possible dangerous political situations and criminal activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tasked with telling travelers about current health concerns such as disease outbreaks around the world. (See what countries are doing to address the next pandemic.)

24/7 Tempo reviewed travel advisories issued by the CDC, current as of early May 2023 (meaning that, although some advisories date back as far as fall of 2021, they are the most recent issued by the agency). There are three levels of advisories: watch level 1: practice usual precautions for this destination, such as being up-to-date on all recommended vaccines; alert level 2: practice enhanced precautions for this destination; and warning level 3: avoid all non-essential travel to this destination because the outbreak is of high risk to travelers and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk.  

On May 4, the World Health Organization ended the global emergency status for COVID-19, more than three years after it was originally declared. While that’s good news, there are still areas of the world where American travelers need to be wary because of possible outbreaks of other serious diseases. Most of these places are in Africa and Asia, but there are also some in the Western Hemisphere.

Click here to see CDC warnings about these places around the world

Nigeria appears four times on the list, twice for watch level 1 (for Lassa fever and Mpox) and twice for alert level 2 (for diphtheria and yellow fever). Bangladesh and Pakistan each appear twice here – the former for dengue and Nipah virus disease, the latter for dengue and extensively drug-resistant typhoid fever. (These are the most dangerous diseases you can get on earth.)

Venezuela is the only country on this list with warning level 3 status, because of infectious diseases, including measles, diphtheria, and malaria.

peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

Nigeria
> Outbreak: Lassa fever
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 4/24/2023

[in-text-ad]

Esdelval / Getty Images

Costa Rica
> Outbreak: Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the provinces of Limón Alajuela Province
> Warning level: Alert Level 2, practice enhanced precautions
> Latest update: 4/17/2023

Meinzahn / iStock via Getty Images

Bangladesh, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam
> Outbreak: Dengue
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 4/17/2023

holgs / iStock via Getty Images

Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean
> Outbreak: Dengue
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 4/17/2023

[in-text-ad-2]

vestica / iStock via Getty Images

Equatorial Guinea
> Outbreak: Marburg virus disease
> Warning level: Alert Level 2, practice enhanced precautions
> Latest update: 4/6/2023

mtcurado / iStock via Getty Images

Paraguay
> Outbreak: Chikungunya
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 4/6/2023

[in-text-ad]

Tanzania
> Outbreak: Marburg virus disease
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 3/27/2023

Jaxons / iStock via Getty Images

Nigeria
> Outbreak: Diphtheria
> Warning level: Alert Level 2, practice enhanced precautions
> Latest update: 2/24/2023

Ibnul Asaf Jawed Susam / iStock via Getty Images

Bangladesh
> Outbreak: Nipah virus disease
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 2/24/2023

[in-text-ad-2]

atosan / iStock via Getty Images

Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Sudan
> Outbreak: Dengue
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 12/5/2022

R.M. Nunes / iStock via Getty Images

Mexico
> Outbreak: Multidrug-resistant Salmonella Newport
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 9/8/2022

[in-text-ad]

peeterv / E+ via Getty Images

Nigeria
> Outbreak: Yellow fever
> Warning level: Alert Level 2, practice enhanced precautions
> Latest update: 5/4/2022

Nigeria
> Outbreak: Mpox
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 11/30/2021

jimmyvillalta / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Venezuela
> Outbreak: Infectious diseases, including measles, diphtheria, and malaria
> Warning level: Warning Level 3, avoid nonessential travel
> Latest update: 9/30/2021

[in-text-ad-2]

Ghulam Hussain / iStock via Getty Images

Pakistan
> Outbreak: Extensively drug-resistant typhoid fever
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 9/30/2021

guenterguni / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

Democratic Republic of the Congo
> Outbreak: Mpox
> Warning level: Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions
> Latest update: 9/30/2021

100 Million Americans Are Missing This Crucial Retirement Tool

The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.

Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.

A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.

Click here to learn how to get a quote in just a few minutes.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.