Travel Hot Spots
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Fact checked by Robert Carlson, MD
Travel Disease Hot Spots August 2023
It’s essential to check your destination before you travel and be prepared by staying current with the latest disease outbreaks and vaccinations. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes disease travel advisories as of July 2023. Infectious disease outbreaks are currently being reported on the CDC website. Additionally, Canada, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the U.K. Foreign Travel Advice, and the European Centers for Disease Control (ECDC) publish disease outbreak news, testing requirements, and vaccination recommendations. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State and local U.S. embassies issued security notices for cities and countries.
Healthmap.org published disease outbreaks segment by countries in 2023. And the most visited cities in 2022 were listed by MoneyTransfers.com.
U.S. Disease Hot Spots 2023
As of September 2023, countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have issued travel advisories focused on concerns when visiting the USA.
Arizona - West Nile virus outbreaks confirmed in 2023. In 2021, Arizona reported over 1,700 WNV cases.
Illinois - Known cases of mpox, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and HIV have been increasing in the Chicago area in 2023.
Florida - Locally-acquired and travel-related Dengue and Malaria cases were confirmed in 2023. A leprosy risk has been identified in central Florida.
Kentucky - Measles cases confirmed near Lexington and Lousiville in early 2023.
New York City - Poliovirus, Mpox, Measles, Tick-borne, West Nile Virus, and Tuberculosis disease detections were confirmed in 2023.
Puerto Rico - Dengue and Zika cases were confirmed in July 2023.
Texas - Tuberculosis cases increased by about 10% (Houston, Dallas) in 2022; Locally-acquired dengue was detected in 2023; A State of Emergency was declared in Brownsville, El Paso, and Larado in 2023 after southern Texas reported a locally-acquired malaria case in late June 2023; Houston and Fort Bend Countries have received reports of increased Cyclospora infections as of July 7, 2023; On August 12, 2023, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) confirmed 8 West Nile Virus human infection and one related death, and four travel-related dengue cases in 2023.
International Disease Hot Spots
Bahamas - Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika
Brazil - Chikungunya, Dengue, Yellow Fever, and Zika viruses
Canada - Poliovirus in Montreal
Cancun, Mexico - Dengue, Malaria case confirmations in 2023.
Caribbean - Dengue, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, and Zika virus cases were confirmed in 2023.
Costa Rica - Malaria, Dengue, and Zika risks in 2023.
England (London) - Measles, Mpox, Meningitis, Poliovirus.
El Salvador - Level 3: Reconsider Travel.
Guatemala - Level 3: Reconsider Travel and Dengue, Malaria, and Zika risks.
Haiti - Do not travel to Haiti, says the U.S. Dept. of State. In 2023, Haiti reported 253 cholera-related deaths. The U.S. CDC recommends various vaccines for visitors to Haiti.
Honduras - Level 3: Reconsider Travel and Dengue, Malaria, and Zika risks in 2023.
India - Dengue, Influenza, Measles, Tuberculosis, and Zika.
Jamaica - High-level security alerts for most islands and Dengue, Malaria, and Zika risks.
Mexico - The U.S. State Department issued a high-level travel advisory for Mexico in August 2023.
South Africa - Measles, Cholera, Yellow Fever risks.
South America - Dengue, Malaria, Measles, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Zika, and State Department Travel Advisories.
Disease Trends
The Rand Corporation published an EBook identifying 25 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific at risk for disease outbreaks.
