Health Alerts for Afghanistan

When preparing for a trip to Afghanistan it is important to know the disease risks that may impact you while abroad. In combination with obtaining recommended and required travel vaccines from your Travel Health Specialist, please see the collection of Afghanistan Health Alerts below to sufficiently prepare your body for your time abroad.

INFLUENZA Worldwide
Feb. '19 – 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 reNov.ned low in most countries; however activity reNov.ned high in Jordan and Turkey. In the temperate countries of Asia, influenza activity continued to decrease, but continues to reNov.n high in the Republic of Korea. In tropical countries of the Americas, influenza activity reNov.ns 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 reNov.ns at inter-seasonal levels.
Sources Include: International Society for Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.

MEASLES Worldwide
Feb. '19 - Health officials in various countries throughout the globe have reported an outbreak of measles. Popular destinations include the United Kingdom, Brazil, Israel, the Philippines and Madagascar. 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 vaccination.
SOURCES: CDC

POLIO in Afghanistan
Feb. '19 - 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 reported polio cases in the past year: Afghanistan, Iraq, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria.
The WHO has released temporary vaccination recommendations for the following countries: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, and Syria.
According to the CDC, 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.