Special Report

Nations Fighting Outbreaks of Diseases Other Than COVID

solarseven / Getty Images

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.

Paula Bronstein / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad]

oldangolaphotos / Flickr

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.

Allison Joyce / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

Space_Cat / iStock via Getty Images

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.

pmigov / Flickr

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.

[in-text-ad]

mtcurado / Getty Images

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.

au_unistphotostream / Flickr

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.

HomoCosmicos / iStock via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

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.

yoh4nn / Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad]

Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

golibtolibov / iStock via Getty Images

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

nechaev-kon / Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad]

Luke Dray / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

upixa / iStock via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

Siempreverde22 / Getty Images

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 – 88% in 2020 according to WHO-UNICEF estimates – 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.

[in-text-ad]

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.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

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.

hadynyah / E+ via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

BalkansCat / Getty Images

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.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad]

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.

pmigov / Flickr

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.

oversnap / Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

Graeme Robertson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

Chris McGrath / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad]

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.

ameer_great / Getty Images

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..

[in-text-ad-2]

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.

[in-text-ad]

guenterguni / Getty Images

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.

TT / Getty Images

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.

atosan / Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

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.

[in-text-ad]

John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

Phototreat / iStock via Getty Images

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.

Paula Bronstein / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

usaidafrica / Flickr

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.

Dimas Ardian / Stringer / Getty Images AsiaPac

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.

[in-text-ad]

Paula Bronstein / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

usaidafrica / Flickr

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.

Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

[in-text-ad-2]

FatCamera / E+ via Getty Images

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.

unsom / Flickr / Public Domain

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.

Find a Qualified Financial Advisor (Sponsor)

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.