Polio is a life-threatening disease caused by a virus that affects the nervous system and is usually spread from one person to another when stool (poop) or, less commonly, droplets from a sneeze or cough of an infected person gets into the mouth of another person. For example, you can get polio if you:

• Eat raw or undercooked food or drink water or other drinks that are contaminated with the stool of an infected person.
• Put a contaminated object such as a toy in your mouth.
• Touch a contaminated object and put your fingers in your mouth.
• Have close contact with a person sick with polio, for example when caring for them.

Most people with polio do not feel sick. Some people have only minor symptoms, such as fever, tiredness, nausea, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, stiffness in the neck and back, and pain in the stomach, arms, and legs. Most people recover completely. In rare cases, polio infection can affect the brain and spinal cord and cause permanent loss of muscle function (paralysis) in the arms or legs (usually the legs). Death can occur if there is a loss of function of the muscles used for breathing or an infection of the brain.

Polio is still a concern in some places. If you are not up to date with your polio vaccines, you are at risk of getting polio. If you are up to date on your polio vaccines but traveling to a polio-affected country, you may need a one-time polio adult booster. Check your destination’s travel health page and talk to your healthcare professional to learn what vaccines you may need before your trip.

Get the polio vaccine:

• Make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. If you are up to date on your polio vaccines and traveling to a polio-affected country, you may need a one-time polio adult booster. Check your destination’s travel health page and talk to your healthcare professional to learn which vaccines you may need before traveling.
• Make sure children are vaccinated. For best protection, children should get four doses of polio vaccine. Ideally, children should receive a dose at ages
  • 2 months;
  • 4 months;
  • 6 through 18 months; and
  • a booster dose at age 4 through 6 years.
• For information about adults who may not have received sufficient vaccine protection, see the adult polio vaccination schedule.
• See Polio Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for more information.

Choose safer food and drinks while traveling

Follow the food and drink safety tips to avoid exposure to any food and drinks that could be contaminated by the stool of a person infected with polio.

Wash your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom or changing a child’s diaper and before eating or preparing food. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill poliovirus.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

If you traveled and feel sick, particularly if you have a fever, talk to a healthcare provider and tell them about your travel. Avoid contact with other people while you are sick.

If you need medical care abroad, see Getting Health Care During Travel.

• CDC Travel Health Notice: Polio in Multiple Countries
• What is Polio?
• Polio: For Travelers
• Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
• CDC Yellow Book: Polio
• World Health Organization: Polio