The United States has issued a travel advisory against global polio. International travel often comes with vaccine reminder and health checks to stay safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 travel advisory for certain international destinations with circulating poliovirus. The CDC has asked travellers to ensure they are up to date on their polio vaccines.

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The Destination list for global polio travel Advisory notice includes:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Angola
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Djibouti
• Ethiopia
• Finland
• Germany
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Israel
• the West Bank and Gaza
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Poland
• Republic of South Sudan
• Senegal
• Somalia
• Spain
• Sudan
• Tanzania, including Zanzibar
• United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Yemen
• Zimbabwe

The CDC issued a 'Level 2' advisory, which means to 'practice enhanced precautions'.

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The advisory suggests that children and adults should be up to date on their routine polio vaccines. Travelers are also asked to get an inactivated polio vaccine booster if they are going to the destination that has circulating poliovirus, or have completed their routine polio vaccine series; and have not already received one adult booster dose.

Types Of Notices Issued By CDC

The CDC issues four different types of notices based on the gravity of the disease spread.

Level 1 : Practice Usual Precautions

Practice usual precautions for this destination, as described in the Travel Health Notice and/or on the destination page.

Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions

Practice enhanced precautions for this destination. The Travel Health Notice describes additional precautions or defines a specific population at risk.

Level 3: Reconsider Nonessential Travel

Reconsider nonessential travel to this destination. The outbreak or event poses risk to travelers because limited precautions are available.

Level 4: Avoid All Travel

Avoid travel to this destination unless traveling for humanitarian aid or emergency response; there is an extreme health risk for travelers and no available precautions.

What Is Polio?

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that it is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in matter of hours. The virus is transmitted by person to person spread mainly through the fecal-oral route, or less frequently, by a common vehicle, which could be either from contaminated food or water. The virus also multiplies in the intestine.

The National Institute of Health (NIH), US, notes that the virus responsible for causing Polio belongs to the Picornaviridae family.

As per the WHO, the common Polio symptoms are:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Stiffness of the neck a
• Pain in the limbs

How Does Polio Spread?

Polio is mainly transmitted through the faecal-oral route, meaning it spreads when a person consumes food or water contaminated with the virus. It can also spread through close contact with an infected individual. The poliovirus lives in the throat and intestines of those infected, and poor sanitation, unsafe water, and inadequate hygiene greatly increase the risk of transmission, especially in communities with limited access to clean facilities.

In severe cases, polio can lead to acute flaccid paralysis, which may affect the diaphragm and throat muscles, making it difficult to breathe or swallow. Since there is no cure for polio, prevention remains the only line of defence. Raising awareness about polio vaccination is therefore essential to protect individuals, especially children, from this potentially life-threatening disease.

A popular snack brand is currently under scrutiny after its multiple products were classified under the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Class I recall. The move came after concerns over its product being contaminated with Salmonella surfaced.

Why Did The Product Get Recalled?

According to the FDA, the recall was initiated in May by Utz Quality Foods LLC after the company found out that a seasoning ingredient containing milk powder, sourced from California Dairies Inc. through a third-party supplier, may have been contaminated with Salmonella.

The recall affects a few varieties of its Zapp's and Dirty’s potato chips, including Zapp's Bayou Blackened Ranch, Big Cheezy, and Salt and Vinegar potato chips, as well as Dirty brand Salt and Vinegar, Maui Onion, and Sour Cream and Onion potato chips.

According to the FDA, Utz said the seasoning batches tested negative before being used in production, but the decision to recall the products was taken as a precautionary measure.

While no illnesses have been reported yet, the FDA's move indicates there is a reasonable probability that consuming these products could result in adverse health consequences and even death.

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What Does FDA’s Class I Recall Signify?

The FDA uses three categories to classify product recalls based on the level of public health risk. A Class I recall is usually reserved for products that pose the highest risk to consumers.

It is issued when there is a reasonable probability that consumption or use of the product will cause serious health problems or death.

What Is Salmonella & How Serious It Is?

Salmonella infection, known as salmonellosis, usually develops between six hours and six days after consuming contaminated food.

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Common symptoms of salmonellosis include:

• Diarrhea

• Fever

• Stomach cramps

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Headache

Most healthy people recover within four to seven days without targeted treatment. However, it can become severe when the infection enters the bloodstream. Deemed as a medical emergency, this situation prompts urgent attention.

Those with weakened immunity systems, such as young children, older adults, and women who are expecting are at the greatest risk of developing serious complications from salmonellosis. In rare cases, the infection can become life-threatening.

The FDA has advised consumers not to eat the recalled potato chips. It has also said that anyone who has purchased the affected products should either discard them or return them to the place where they bought them for a refund.

The regulatory body has also said that consumers who experience symptoms of salmonellosis after eating the recalled products, especially those at higher risk for complications, should seek medical care immediately.

Although no infection cases linked to the recalled chips have been reported to date, health officials say the recall is intended to prevent potential cases before they occur.

Women diagnosed with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) should receive an annual NHS health review and be diagnosed earlier to reduce their long-term health risks, according to draft guidance released by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The guidance, now open for public consultation, recommends yearly reviews to monitor symptoms, treatment and the risk of developing serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Earlier diagnosis, NICE says, could help people access timely care and make lifestyle changes before complications develop.

PMOS, until recently known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), was renamed following an international consensus published in The Lancet. The new name better reflects the condition's endocrine, metabolic and ovarian features.

What Does The Draft Guideline Recommend?

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NICE recommends that everyone diagnosed with PMOS should be offered an annual review covering:

• Menstrual irregularities
• Symptoms such as excess hair growth (hirsutism)
• Medication use
• Screening for long-term health risks, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease

The guideline also includes recommendations on fertility treatment, stating that eligible patients should be offered IVF in line with existing NHS fertility guidance. It also addresses the management of common PMOS-related conditions, including acne, hirsutism and obstructive sleep apnea.

Given the increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease in people with PMOS, the guidance directs healthcare professionals to relevant NICE recommendations for managing these conditions.

Earlier Diagnosis A Key Priority

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The draft guideline highlights that PMOS remains underdiagnosed despite affecting an estimated one in eight women.

It recommends investigating PMOS in anyone with irregular or absent menstrual cycles alongside signs of excess male hormones, as these are common indicators of the condition.

The guidance covers girls aged over 10, as well as adult women, trans men and non-binary people who are not receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy or surgery.

People with suspected PMOS should be offered blood tests to measure hormone levels and, where appropriate, pelvic ultrasound scans. The guideline also states that PMOS should not be ruled out after menopause and notes that the condition may be more prevalent among women of Black, Asian and mixed ethnic backgrounds.

Marie Anne Ledingham, consultant clinical adviser for women's and reproductive health at NICE, said the guidance is intended to improve consistency of care and ensure people receive appropriate long-term monitoring.

"PMOS is a common but often overlooked condition that can have a major impact on health and well-being. Recommending a simple annual review is an important step towards ensuring people get the ongoing care and monitoring they need," Ledingham said, in a statement.

Mental Health And Fertility Addressed

The draft guidance recognizes that PMOS affects far more than reproductive health. It is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnoea, pregnancy complications and fertility problems.

For people planning a pregnancy, NICE recommends advice on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, good sleep and mental wellbeing to improve reproductive outcomes.

The guidance also stresses that eating disorders should not be overlooked or dismissed based solely on a person's weight.

Laser Hair Removal Not Recommended

While the draft guideline includes recommendations to manage hirsutism, it does not support routine NHS funding for laser and light-based hair removal therapies. NICE concluded that these treatments are not cost-effective, estimating they could cost the NHS "up to £100 million annually" in England if routinely funded.

The draft guideline is open for consultation until August 11, 2026, with the final NICE guidance on PMOS expected to be published in December 2026.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a prevention advisory against West Nile virus as the transmission season has begun early and more intensely. As of June 30, the virus has been detected in at least 23 states, with most in Arizona, making this season the widest geographic spread this early in the season in a decade.

West Nile Virus: CDC Issues Warning Against Mosquito Bites

At least 48 confirmed cases of West Nile virus were reported in the US. 38 of them are neuroinvasive (severe) cases, making it the strongest season in two decades.

Arizona has recorded the highest number of infections, particularly in Maricopa County, where 32 cases and four deaths have been reported. The first case of 2026 emerged in California’s Long Beach.

Authorities have warned, saying that senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems remain at the highest risk.

The CDC has issued a prevention advisory to control West Nile virus. It includes:

• Use mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

• Wear long sleeves and long pants.

• Remove stagnant water around the house to remove mosquito breeding sites.

• Repair damaged window and door screens.

• Seek medical care if you have a high fever, severe headache, confusion, neck stiffness, or muscle weakness, especially if it develops after mosquito exposure.

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About West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus that belongs to the flavivirus family, the same group that includes the viruses causing Dengue fever, Zika virus disease, Yellow fever, and Japanese encephalitis.

It is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected after feeding on infected birds, which are the virus's first host. About 80% infected with West Nile virus have no symptoms. About 20% develop West Nile fever.

Its common symptoms include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Body and muscle aches

• Fatigue or weakness

• Joint pain

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Skin rash on the trunk or back

• Swollen lymph nodes

The disease could become serious in a few infected people who may develop its neuroinvasive disease. In this situation, the virus affects the brain, spinal cord, or surrounding tissues. Severe complications include encephalitis (brain inflammation), meningitis, and acute flaccid paralysis.

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The symptoms of severe West Nile virus include most of the commons ones as well as:

• Neck stiffness

• Confusion or disorientation

• Tremors

• Loss of coordination

• Vision problems

• Seizures

• Paralysis

• Coma (rare cases)

Why The West Nile Virus Season Is Early This Year?

Prolonged Warmer Climate

Mosquito populations usually do not thrive in cold weather. A warmer winter in several parts of the U.S. meant more mosquito populations survived into spring, leading to early breeding and virus transmission.

Warm Temperatures Accelerate Mosquito Breeding

Warm spring weather speeds up mosquito breeding. The virus becomes active enough to reach infectious levels in warmer mosquitoes, shortening the time between when a mosquito becomes infected and when it can spread the virus to humans.

Stagnant Water

In most regions, warm weather is followed by periods of rain, creating ideal habitats for mosquitoes to breed.

Climate Change Extend Mosquito Seasons

Longer mosquito seasons are usually due to a milder-than-average warm climate. Warm temperatures also help the mosquito population to expand in newer regions. This leads to faster viral development and more cases of infection.