Since the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, a global pandemic about two years ago, the virus has swept through virtually every nation on Earth. Nearly 400 million people have been infected with COVID and about six million, according to data from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Even as we’ve dealt with the most catastrophic outbreak since the Spanish flu about a century ago, viruses that predate the coronavirus continue to plague our world. (These are the worst epidemics and pandemics in history.)
To determine what diseases are major health risks, 24/7 Tempo has compiled a list of nations battling outbreaks other than COVID, based on data from sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and various news outlets. (Read how COVID fatality rates compare with those of other diseases.)
The most devastating diseases still plaguing the world include dengue fever, polio, and Ebola. These scourges are prevalent in Africa and Asia, though every continent has experienced some level of outbreak recently.
Dengue fever, a disease spread by mosquitoes, has been a health issue in 17 countries on our list, in Asia, Africa, and both North and South America. Polio, a crippling and potentially deadly disease caused by the poliovirus, was virtually eradicated in the United States by 1979 but remains a health concern in the developing world.
The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus first spreads to people through contact with the blood, body fluids, and tissues of animals, then through contact with body fluids of those who are sick with or have died from the disease. Scientists do not know where it comes from. Congo has suffered through repeated outbreaks of the disease.
Measles, a contagious virus spread by coughing or sneezing, is a serious health risk in 15 African nations on our list. Other diseases afflicting mostly the developing world are visceral leishmaniasis, monkeypox, and yellow fever.
Click here to learn about nations battling outbreaks other than COVID
The diseases mentioned for each country on this list are representative, and may pose the greatest health risks to residents and visitors alike, but are by no means the only illnesses that may be contracted in these places. Before planning travel to any country, whether on this list or not, it’s a good idea to consult the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages for warnings and recommended precautions.
Note also that this list of countries with serious disease outbreaks is not complete, and that many of the countries that are on the list remain at high risk for COVID-19 as well other diseases.
Afghanistan
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 38,928,346
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the Asian nation a high risk for the transmission of polio. The World Health Organization recommends that Afghanistan require residents and visitors who stay four weeks or longer show proof of polio vaccination before leaving the country.
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Angola
> Outbreak: Measles
> Current population: 32,866,272
The number of measles cases is higher than normal in Angola. The CDC recommends that all travelers to Africa, including infants and pre-school aged children, should be fully protected against measles, especially when going to Angola.
Argentina
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 45,195,774
Manuela Cabello, director of the Oscar Orías Hospital, confirmed the first six cases of dengue fever in the summer season in Argentina in late January. They were detected in the area of Libertador General San Martín.
Bangladesh
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 164,689,383
The CDC placed Bangladesh at Watch Level 1, meaning “practice usual precautions,” on its travel health notice for dengue fever in that Asian nation, which has the world’s eighth-largest population. Travelers are advised to protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites.
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Belize
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 397,628
The smallest Central American country by population has been placed at Watch Level 1, “practice usual precautions,” by the CDC. Dengue fever, a disease transmitted by mosquito bites, is a risk in parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Benin
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 12,123,200
The African nation on the Atlantic coast is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at the Alert Level 2, the second-highest, which advises travelers to practice enhanced precautions. The CDC recommends a booster dose of polio vaccine before travel to Benin.
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Burkina Faso
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 20,903,273
The African nation, on the northern border of Benin, is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at the Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. As with Benin, the CDC recommends a polio vaccine booster before travel to Burkina Faso.
Burundi
> Outbreak: Malaria
> Current population: 11,890,784
The CDC has a Watch Level 1 – “practice usual precautions” – alert for travelers to the landlocked nation of Burundi, which is dealing with an outbreak of malaria. To prevent malaria infection, travelers should take prescription medicine and avoid mosquito bites.
Cameroon
> Outbreak: Measles/polio
> Current population: 26,545,863
The CDC placed Cameroon at the Alert Level 2 for polio, which advises travelers to practice enhanced precautions.The CDC also has also placed this country on Africa’s Atlantic coast on a Watch Level 1 for measles. A booster dose of polio vaccine is advised before travel to Cameroon.
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Central African Republic
> Outbreak: Measles/polio
> Current population: 4,829,767
The former French colony was placed at the Alert Level 2 for polio by the CDC, which means that travelers should take enhanced precautions. Travelers to the CAR should get a booster dose of polio vaccine, according to the CDC.
Chad
> Outbreak: Visceral leishmaniasis/measles
> Current population: 16,425,864
The CDC has a Watch Level 1 (“practice usual precautions”) alert for visceral leishmaniasis for travelers to this large, Central African nation. Visceral leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease spread by sand flies. The disease can affect internal organs. There are no vaccines or medicines that prevent leishmaniasis. Measles is also a concern in Chad.
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Colombia
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 50,882,891
A Watch Level 1, meaning “practice usual precautions,” has been issued by the CDC for dengue fever in this South American nation.
Democratic Republic of Congo
> Outbreak: Monkeypox/Measles/Polio
> Current population: 89,561,403
The CDC has issued a Watch Level 1 practice-usual-precautions alert for measles for travelers to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the second-largest nation in Africa by area. Monkeypox and polio are also concerns. The country got a dose of good news in December when it declared the Ebola outbreak it had been experiencing was over.
Dominican Republic
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 10,847,910
The CDC has a Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions alert for dengue fever for travelers to the island nation in the Caribbean. Dengue fever, a disease transmitted by mosquito bites, is a risk in parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
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Egypt
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 102,334,404
This nation straddling Africa and Asia is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at the Alert Level 2, its second-highest, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. The outbreak originated in Sudan, on Egypt’s southern border
El Salvador
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 6,486,205
The Central American nation is dealing with a dengue fever outbreak and the CDC has proclaimed a Watch Level 1 (“practice usual precautions”) alert for travelers here.
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Ethiopia
> Outbreak: Yellow fever/measles/polio
> Current population: 114,963,588
The CDC has a Watch Level 1, practice-usual-precautions alert for yellow fever, measles, and polio for travelers to this eastern African nation. Ethiopia, which hopes to have three million children vaccinated against measles in 2022, is one of the countries in Africa on this list that the CDC recommends a booster dose of polio vaccine before visiting.
French Guinea
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 298,682
French Guinea is struggling with an outbreak of dengue fever. The CDC has a Watch Level 1 alert, advising travelers here to practice the usual precautions, for travelers to the South American nation, the smallest country by population on the continent.
Gambia
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 2,416,668
This western African nation on the Atlantic coast is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at the Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions.The CDC recommends a booster dose of polio vaccine before travel here.
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Ghana
> Outbreak: Yellow fever
> Current population: 31,072,940
An outbreak of yellow fever started in this African nation on the Atlantic Ocean in October. The World Health Organization said that although there is high overall population immunity against yellow fever in Ghana â 88% in 2020 according to WHO-UNICEF estimates â there are pockets of unvaccinated nomadic people.
Guinea
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 13,132,795
This Western African nation on the Atlantic coast is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at the Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. A booster dose of polio vaccine is recommended by the CDC to travelers to Guinea.
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Guinea-Bissau
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 1,968,001
Like its larger neighbor, Guinea, this Western African nation has been placed at the Alert Level 2 by the CDC, which also advises booster dose of polio vaccine before travel to the country.
Haiti
> Outbreak: Rabies
> Current population: 11,402,528
The CDC has a Watch Level 1 (“practice usual precautions”) alert, for travelers to this Caribbean island nation because of an outbreak of rabies. The CDC reports that rabies in dogs is increasing in Haiti, partly because the annual program to vaccinate dogs has been interrupted by political turmoil.
India
> Outbreak: Dengue fever/Zika
> Current population: 1,380,004,385
The CDC has put out an Alert Level 2 for the Zika virus, recommending enhanced precautions for travelers to India to guard against the disease, which is spread by mosquito bites. The agency has also issued a Watch Level 1 for dengue fever.
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Iran
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 83,992,949
The CDC has a Watch Level 1, practice-usual-precautions, alert for polio for travelers to the Middle Eastern nation. The CDC recommends a booster dose of polio vaccine before traveling here. The situation is most serious in refugee camps, humanitarian aid locations, and – ironically – healthcare facilities.
Kenya
> Outbreak: Dengue fever/measles/polio
> Current population: 53,771,296
The CDC has put out an Alert Level 2 health notice, meaning to practice enhanced precautions, for those traveling to Kenya for polio. It also issued a Watch Level 1 (practice usual precautions) alert for dengue fever. Measles is also a problem in the country.
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Liberia
> Outbreak: Measles/polio
> Current population: 5,057,681
This African nation on the Atlantic coast is under a Watch Level 1 alert from the CDC for measles and polio. All travelers to Africa in general, including babies and preschool-aged children, should be fully vaccinated against measles, according to the CDC.
Madagascar
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 27,691,018
An African island nation in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar has been placed at Alert Level 2 by the CDC, which also recommends that travelers here get a polio vaccine booster.
Mali
> Outbreak: Measles
> Current population: 20,903,273
This landlocked African country is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions.
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Mozambique
> Outbreak: Measles/polio
> Current population: 31,255,435
An African nation directly west of Madagascar, Mozambique has earned a Watch Level 1 alert from the CDC for measles and polio. All travelers to Africa, including babies and preschool-aged children, should be fully vaccinated against measles, according to the CDC.
Nepal
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 29,136,808
Nestled in the Himalayan mountains, this nation experienced an outbreak of dengue fever in November, following the monsoon season, and the period afterward is considered to be a high transmission time for the dengue fever virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. The same vector also transmits the yellow fever and Zika viruses.
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Niger
> Outbreak: Measles/polio
> Current population: 24,206,644
The African nation on the Atlantic Coast has a Watch Level 1, practice usual precautions alert, from the CDC for measles and polio. All travelers to Africa, including babies and preschool-aged children, should be fully vaccinated against measles, according to the CDC.
Nigeria
> Outbreak: Measles/monkeypox/yellow fever/polio
> Current population: 206,139,589
The seventh-most populous country in the world, this African nation is under a Watch Level 1 alert from the CDC for measles and polio. Monkeypox and yellow fever are also diseases to be wary of here.
Pakistan
> Outbreak: Dengue fever/polio/typhoid
> Current population: 220,892,340
Pakistan, the fifth-most populous nation in the world, is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at Alert Level 2, its second-highest warning designation. The nation is also under a Watch Level 1 for dengue fever, and therea re also concerns about typhoid..
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Paraguay
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 7,132,538
According to the Arbovirus Surveillance report from the Ministry of Public Health and Welfare of Paraguay, more than 300 dengue fever cases have been reported weekly in 2022 so far in this landlocked South American nation.
Peru
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 32,971,854
A South American nation on the Pacific coast, Peru has a Watch Level 1 practice-usual-precautions alert from the CDC for dengue fever. The disease is an ongoing health risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
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Republic of the Congo
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 5,518,087
This African nation is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. The Republic of the Congo is one of the African countries on the CDC’s list of destinations for which a booster dose of polio vaccine is recommended.
Réunion
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 895,312
Réunion, a small island nation east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean is at Watch Level 1 from the CDC for dengue fever.
Senegal
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 16,743,927
There’s a high risk for polio in this western African nation, according to the CDC, which placed it at Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. The agency also recommends a polio vaccine booster shot for those planning on traveling to Senegal.
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Sierra Leone
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 7,976,983
This small African nation on the Atlantic coast is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at Alert Level 2, its second-highest warning designation. Travelers here are advised by the CDC to get a booster dose of polio vaccine.
Singapore
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 5,850,342
This prosperous Asian city-state experienced a surge in dengue fever cases for the week ending Jan. 25. The country’s National Environment Agency warned that an increase could occur if the local mosquito population was left undisturbed.
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Somalia
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 15,893,222
There’s a high risk for polio in this Eastern African nation. The CDC has placed it at Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. It is also recommended that travelers here get a polio vaccine booster shot.
South Sudan
> Outbreak: Measles/Polio
> Current population: 11,193,725
South Sudan, which came into existence in 2011, is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at Alert Level 2, its second-highest warning level, and advises a polio vaccine booster shot for travelers here.
Sri Lanka
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 21,413,249
This island off India’s southern coast has been placed at Watch Level 1 for dengue fever by the CDC, advising people to practice usual precautions here.
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Sudan
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 43,849,260
Sudan, one of Africa’s largest countries in area, is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at Alert Level 2, travelers to practice enhanced precautions. Travelers should also get a polio vaccine booster shot before coming here, says the CDC.
Tajikistan
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 9,537,645
Landlocked Tajikistan in Central Asia is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC. With the country at Alert Level 2, travelers are adviced to practice enhanced precautions.
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Timor-Leste (East Timor)
> Outbreak: Dengue fever
> Current population: 1,318,445
Timor-Leste, an island country in Southeast Asia, recorded a surge of dengue fever cases after the start of 2022, with the death toll reaching 20 on Jan. 31. The disease is a major public health problem in the country, with several major epidemics occurring here over the last 10 years.
Uganda
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 45,741,007
Landlocked Uganda confirmed a polio outbreak in August 2021 and declared a health emergency. The nation launched a polio immunization program for those under the age of 5 that started in mid-January of this year.
Ukraine
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 43,733,762
As if the nation of Ukraine didn’t have enough to worry about with a possible invasion from Russia, the European nation is at a high risk for polio. The CDC placed the country at Alert Level 2, advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions. Visitors are also advised to get a polio vaccine booster shot.
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Venezuela
> Outbreak: Various infectious diseases
> Current population: 28,435,940
Venezuela is the only nation on the list that has a Warning Level 3 from the CDC, meaning that people should avoid all non-essential travel. The health infrastructure has collapsed in this South American nation, with many infectious diseases on the rise, including outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, and malaria.
Yemen
> Outbreak: Polio
> Current population: 29,825,964
The nation on the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula is at a high risk for polio, according to the CDC, which placed the country at Alert Level 2. It is recommended that travelers here get a booster dose of polio vaccine.
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