Health Alerts for Afghanistan

INFLUENZA Worldwide
Oct. '17 – According to the CDC, annual vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended for all people 6-months of age and older. Globally, influenza activity is low in most regions. In North America, influenza activity continues to decrease. In Europe, influenza activity continues to decrease in most countries. In northern Africa and the Middle East, influenza activity continues to decrease or remained low in most countries; however activity remained high in Jordan and Turkey. In the temperate countries of Asia, influenza activity continued to decrease, but continues to remain high in the Republic of Korea. In tropical countries of the Americas, influenza activity remains low in most countries. In tropical Asia, influenza activity began to decline in India but continued to decrease in southern China and Hong Kong SAR. In tropical Africa, influenza activity increased in western Africa, however Madagascar reported declining influenza activity. Lastly, in the southern hemisphere influenza activity remains at inter-seasonal levels.
Sources Include: International Society for Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.

MEASLES Worldwide
Oct. '17 - Health officials in France and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have reported an outbreak of measles. You can get measles primarily by breathing in airborne particles that contain the virus. Symptoms of measles are rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
The best protection against measles is through vaccination.
SOURCES: CDC

POLIO in Afghanistan
Oct. '17 - CDC and WHO recommend that all international travelers be fully vaccinated against polio. Additionally, adults should receive a one-time booster dose of polio vaccine if traveling to a polio-affected country. The following countries have reported polio cases in recent years: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The following countries reported polio cases in the past year: Afghanistan, Cameroon, Guinea, Laos, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan and Ukraine.
According to the CDC, as of May 5, 2014, anyone staying in any of the polio-affected countries for more than 4 weeks may be required to show proof of polio vaccination when departing the country; in these instances polio vaccine must be received between 4 weeks and 12 months prior to departure from the polio-affected country and should be documented in the yellow International Certificate of Vaccination in order to avoid delays in transit or forced vaccination in country.
Sources Include: International Society for Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.