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In 1994, an international commission certified the
eradication of endemic wild poliovirus from the Americas. Ongoing
surveillance in formerly endemic Central and South
American countries (Tropical
and Temperate) confirms
that poliovirus transmission remains interrupted.
The incidence of communicable diseases is such that they are unlikely to
prove a hazard for international travelers greater than that found in their
own country. There are, of course, health risks, but in general, the
precautions required are minimal.
Certain diseases occasionally occur, such as plague, rabies in
wildlife, including bats, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia,
arthropod-borne encephalitis, and seasonal outbreaks of influenza.
Rodent-borne hantavirus has been identified, predominantly in the western
states of the United States. Lyme disease is endemic
in the northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic, and the upper Midwest and
the southwestern provinces of Canada. Occasional cases have been reported
from the Pacific Northwest. Recently, cases of West Nile virus
have occurred around the New York City area. During recent years, the
incidence of certain foodborne diseases, e.g., E.
coli
O157:H7 and salmonellosis, has increased in some regions. Other hazards
include poisonous snakes (see Animal-Associated
Hazards on the Making
Travel Safe page), poison ivy, and poison oak. In the north, a serious
hazard is the very low temperature in the winter.
In the United States, proof of immunization against diphtheria, measles,
poliomyelitis, and rubella
is now universally required for entry into school. In addition, the school
entry requirements of most states include immunization against tetanus (49 states), pertussis (44 states),
mumps (46
states), and hepatitis
B (26 states). Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine is
not required for school entry but is required in 49 states for attendance
in day care facilities.
(See the Diseases page
for more information on North American diseases such as hantavirus and
Rocky Mountain spotted fever.)
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United States
Canada
