Tag: Issues

CDC Issues Travel Advisory Traveling To These Countries Due To Monkeypox
[ad_1]
Share The Article

Last Updated 42 mins ago

Are we in the early days of a new global health emergency? After several monkeypox outbreaks were registered across Europe this week, and Belgium going as far as imposing a strict 21-day quarantine for travelers with a confirmed infection, the CDC has now issued a travel warning to a number of destinations due to the emerging threat.

Monkeypox is a disease classed by the World Health Organization as being of ‘global public health importance‘. Although it mostly affects countries in West and Central Africa, it is also present in other parts of the world, and the identification of new clusters in Europe and North America, where it is not yet endemic, is worrying health experts.

CDC Formally Recognizes The New Global Health Threat

Adding weight to the other health warnings issued by countries like the UK, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC has formally recognized monkeypox as a potentially disruptive pathogen, and emitted its own travel alert to a number of destinations in Europe and beyond. According to the CDC, cases have been reported in the following states:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- England
- France
- Germany
- Israel
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Scotland
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Besides the above, monkeypox has already reached the United States as well, less than a month after the first infection clusters were identified in Europe. For that reason, the CDC has added the affected countries to the Level 2 category, stopping short of slapping a Level 3 travel warning due to monkeypox.

This means that, when traveling to all European countries listed, as well as Australia, Canada and Israel, U.S. citizens should now ‘practice enhanced precautions’ to avoid monkeypox. This is a first for these destinations, as monkeypox had been mostly limited to a number of African nations up until recently.

Out of the CDC-flagged countries, Belgium has been the first to act, enacting a mandatory 21-day quarantine requirement for travelers with a confirmed monkeypox infection. The ECDC, the European equivalent to the CDC, is also monitoring the situation closely, as the case count across Europe exceeds 100 – with a large concentration of those in Spain and Portugal.

Curiously, recent cases have not been linked to travel to Central or West African countries, ‘where monkeypox usually occurs’, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria. This is a strong indication there is community transmission within Europe and North American continents.

LGBTQ+ Americans Should Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling From Now On

Corroborating other findings by health authorities in foreign countries, the CDC mentions a considerable portion of cases have been reported among men who have sex with men, as sexual interaction with an infected individual increases transmission dramatically. In fact, the first European clusters were likely spread by risky sexual behavior at 2 raves.

Because of early infection trends, gay travelers should exercise increased caution, considering Spain happens to be one of the safest destinations for them, and thus a leader in LGBTQ+ tourism. That said, anyone can be infected, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, as ‘cases were also reported in people live in the same household as an infected person’.

How Is Monkeypox Transmitted And What Does The CDC Now Advises?

All it takes is coming into close contact with a person with an active infection, and particularly visible rashes and scabs caused by the disease. It can also be transmitted via bodily fluids such as pus or blood from open lesions, which are common throughout the course of infection. Scientists have not yet established whether it can be passed on through semen.

While most patients will recover without any long-term complications, monkeypox scabs can leave scars behind once they fall off, and seriously disrupt travel plans. Following in the steps of Belgium, the Dominican Republic, one of the preferred vacation spots for Americans, has also issued a preventive alert due to monkeypox.

As the World Health Organization states, people are most infectious when they have symptoms, much like Covid, and ‘normally for between two and four weeks’. Touching clothing, bedding, towels and contaminated objects such as cutlery and dishes have been equally recognized as precursors to infection.

When visiting Spain, France, Portugal, or any other destination on the list, the CDC now advises travelers to avoid:
- Close contact with sick people, particularly those with skin or genital lesions;
- Touching any dead or live wild animals, such as rats, squirrels, monkeys and apes;
- Handling all materials used by monkeypox-infected individuals as they could be contaminated.
Risk To The General Public Remains Low As Of Now

Despite the warnings, the CDC maintains that the ‘risk to the general public is low’. Regardless, travelers are advised to seek immediate medical attention when developing any known monkeypox symptoms. Those can manifest through fever, chills, tiredness and new, syphilis-like lesions on any part of the body.

The latest CDC advice deals a fresh blow to Europe, which only recently started reopening following the Covid crisis. While monkeypox is not a novel virus like Covid, it has the potential to spread quickly and trigger a new era of tightened health protocols for travelers. So far, the World Health Organization has not declared it a global health emergency.

Read More:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

Germany Removes All Entry Requirements For Summer

Record Number Of Direct Flights Happening Between The U.S. And Greece This Summer

Mexico Expecting 40 Million Visitors This Year – How It Will Impact Your Trip

Barbados Lifts Testing Requirement For Vaccinated Americans

↓ Join the community ↓

The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox

Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
[ad_2]

Source link
May 27, 2022
U.S. Issues Security Warning For Puerto Vallarta
[ad_1]
Share The Article

Last Updated 4 mins ago

From the sandy beaches of the world-famous Riviera Maya to its picturesque Pacific Coast, Mexico has been grappling with an increase in violence lately. Although Cancun suffered the brunt of it, and in the midst of a long-awaited tourist season, it is now Puerto Vallarta that has woken up to the news the U.S. has issued a security alert for the city.

Much like its rivals on the Caribbean coast, Puerto Vallarta is a massively popular destination among Americans. A well-developed city with an unparalleled cultural offer, it famously features some of Mexico’s most famous beaches, including Playa de Los Muertos, plus numerous resorts and tourist complexes that rarely see the odd quiet month.

While Puerto Vallarta had managed, so far, to dodge the level of scrutiny Cancun has been under, this may not be the case anymore as more incidents make the headlines:

Confrontation Between Police And Local Gangs Increases In Puerto Vallarta

Following a recent shooting near the Marina Vallarta resort stretch, resulting from a clash between local police and criminal groups, as well as reports of abduction, the U.S. Mission to Mexico was quick to assert safety levels in the region were compromised, mainly as a result of the ‘increased presence of Mexican security forces‘.

While it is easy to think increased security would, in fact, mean the opposite, the U.S. mentions ‘the potential for confrontations between criminal groups and security forces in the Puerto Vallarta area and in the Guadalajara metropolitan area’. Although criminals rarely target tourists, they could still be in danger of getting caught in the crossfire.

As authorities warn, shootings can occur in public places and bystanders risk being injured even when not directly engaged in the conflict. Despite reminding Americans of this gloomy prospect, the U.S. does not mention any particular event as the reason behind the alert, which also encompasses other tourist hotspots in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit.

When vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Americans are advised to:
- Follow local news for security updates
- Be aware of their surroundings
- Review personal security plans
- Call 911 during an emergency
They should also ‘reconsider travel’ to the whole state of Jalisco due to ‘crime and kidnapping’. Sadly, Jalisco is not the only destination Americans are now discouraged to visit: Baja California, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, the State of Mexico, which comprises Mexico City, Morelos, and Zacatecas are among other regions listed.

How Actually Dangerous Is Puerto Vallarta Right Now?

Even though crime has increased, it is far from being rampant and U.S. authorities seem aware of that. Unlike the states of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas, Jalisco has not been placed under a ‘no-travel list’, and there seems to be only a moderate to low exposure to violence in the area.

In our article challenging misconceptions about safety concerns in Cancun, we have discoursed extensively on how crime levels are poised to be higher than average in nearly every big North American city – including New York and Los Angeles. That is not to say security alerts should be ignored, especially when issued by security experts.

Nevertheless, visitors should bear in mind Mexico has mobilized a whole battalion to protect tourists from any such incidents in tourist zones. Exercising caution and having contingency plans in place may be advised, both on trips to Mexico and any vacation abroad, but in reality, the vast majority of visits to the country are trouble-free.

Simultaneously, we also cannot overlook the fact that Puerto Vallarta has seen a 200% increase in travel scams, or that power struggles could become more common as more cartels battle for dominance over the Vallarta region. Even then, scams can easily be avoided by following this guidance, while shootings seldom affect vacationers.

If you are headed to Puerto Vallarta soon, make sure you follow all the following recommendation in order to ensure a smoother trip:
- Apply for a passport in advance as there have been long wait times
- Only book travel packages in Mexico through licensed providers
- Pre-book your airport transfer to avoid taxi scams
- Stick to popular tourist areas
- Exercise caution walking after dark, especially in distant neighborhoods
- Do not display any valuables unnecessarily outside tourist complexes
- Purchase travel insurance for increased health and safety guarantees
For more information on travel to Mexico, including all the latest security warnings and Covid updates, make sure you visit our dedicated page.

Read More:

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

Mexico Ends Warning System For Covid And Will Treat Virus As Endemic

Mexico’s New Mayan Train Project Suspended

Celebrity Cruises Announces New Services To Mexico And The Pacific Coast

These Are The Top 5 Countries That Americans Plan On Traveling To This Year

↓ Join the community ↓

The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox

Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
[ad_2]

Source link
May 1, 2022
US State Department Issues New Travel Warning For Tijuana And Baja California
[ad_1]
Share The Article

Last Updated 2 mins ago

Travelers have been warned to reconsider travel, the government is concerned about crimes and kidnappings in the region

The U.S. Department of State issued a new travel warning for US citizens visiting Tijuana and Baja California. The update comes after recent cases of kidnapping and violence in the region.

The amendment has been made just two weeks after the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the United States announced that it lowered travel advisory for Mexico from “Level 4: Do not travel”, to “Level 3: Reconsider Travel”.

The government is concerned about rising crime and recent kidnappings which include homicide cases and violent aggressions. The official publication states: “Transnational criminal organizations compete in the border area to establish narco-trafficking and human smuggling routes. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations.”

Many Americans have been traveling in the past few weeks to Tijuana also for cheaper gas prices, as Los Angeles Times reported. Those visiting the region, even for a short period of time, should stay aware and follow the State Department’s recommendations.

Risks For Travelers In Tijuana

According to the information shared by the US Department, the highest concern is addressed to non-tourist areas of Tijuana, where a high number of homicides have been reported recently. The government explained that most homicides have been targeted, but bystanders can be injured or even killed in territorial disputes between criminal organizations.

It has also been disclosed that citizens and lawful permanent residents in the United States have been victims of kidnapping.

The president of Tijuana’s Chamber of Commerce, Jorge Macías Jiménez, has made declarations to Fox 5, after the US Government shared this update: “The warning is mostly for areas where tourists wouldn’t go in the first place, it won’t harm tourism or the commercial sector.”

Macías Jimenez considers that the warning shouldn’t frighten tourists and said: “I do advise people to use caution since there are areas where criminal disputes sometimes result in injuries or even death of bystanders, but that’s only if you venture into non-tourist areas.”

Travel Considerations And Recommendations

The US Department of State also shared recommendations and advice and requested US government employees to adhere to the restrictions. These are the current considerations regarding Baja California:
- Avoid Mexicali Valley: the agency urges Americans to avoid this area due to the “heightened possibility of violence between rival cartel factions”.
- Travelers can use Highways 2 and 2D —during daylight hours— to transit between Mexicali, Los Algodones, and San Luis Rios Colorado. Also during the daytime, visitors can use Highways 1, 8, and 5.
- Reconsider Travel to Baja California: the government urges US citizens to especially avoid non-tourist areas.
Travelers must read and understand the information published on the government’s official website when visiting Mexico. General Mexico Travel recommendations include:
- Do not transit between cities during nighttime. Travelers shouldn’t hail taxis on the street, it is better to rely on dispatched vehicles, app-based services and regulated taxi stands.
- Avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas.
- Do not travel to Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas states due to crime and kidnapping.
- Reconsider travel to Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Mexico, Morelos, Nayarit, Sonora, and Zacatecas states due to crime and kidnapping.
- Increase caution when traveling to Aguas Calientes, Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Tlaxcal, and Veracruz states and Mexico city due to crime and kidnapping.
- Review the US Embassy’s, CDC, and Crime and Safety Reports’s webpages regarding Mexico.
- Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, casinos, or nightclubs.
- Keep family and traveling companions informed of the location and travel plans.
- Follow the US Department of State and the US Embassy on Facebook and Twitter.
- Avoid wearing watches or jewelry, since these are considered signs of wealth.
Read More:

Mexico Reaches Its Safest Level Since The Pandemic Began

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2022

This Popular Beach Destination Is One Of The Safest In Mexico

↓ Join the community ↓

The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox

Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
[ad_2]

Source link
March 28, 2022
U.S. Issues New Travel Advisories For 14 Countries
[ad_1]
Share The Article

Last Updated 2 mins ago

The US Department of State has handed out a further 14 new travel advisory updates. The new updates, which were published yesterday on the State Department’s website, provide travelers with accurate and up to date information about the risks they might encounter when traveling to a specific location. Whilst many of the most recent updates were caused due to high levels of Covid-19 within a country, other factors may also be taken into consideration.

Issued as part of the State Departments’ attempts to keep travelers safe and informed throughout the pandemic and the uncertain times facing the world, the latest updates are the ninth individual round of updates to be published this month alone. Here’s a closer look at what the travel advisory system is, what the updates mean for travelers and which countries saw their travel advisories updates yesterday.

U.S. Travel Advisories – What Are They?

The State Department’s travel advisory warning system was designed to be a simple way to keep travelers aware of the risks faced when traveling abroad. Formerly known as Travel Warnings and Travel Alert, it has undergone several facelifts throughout the years, with the current iteration employing a color-coded and number-based system to make it even easier for travelers to understand.

Travel advisories warning levels themselves are updated as needed, based on the current security and safety information available. The different warning levels and colors are as follows:
- Level 1 warnings (blue) – this is the lowest threat level for travelers, and asks travelers to exercise normal precautions in that destination
- Level 2 warnings (yellow) – these ask travelers to exercise increased caution in that country
- Level 3 warnings (orange) – these ask travelers to reconsider travel to that destination
- Level 4 warnings (red) – these are the most severe, and explicitly warn travelers not to travel to a specific country
Latest Updates – What Travelers Should Know

At the start of the pandemic, the majority of travel advisory updates saw Level 4 warning issued to countries as the world struggled to get to grips with the spread of Covid-19. Thankfully, as time has gone on, more and more Level 2 warnings are being handed out to countries, reflecting the improvement of the Covid-19 situation around the world. Of yesterday’s 14 updates, nine of them were Level 1 and 2 whilst no Level 4 updates were awarded, which suggests the situation is improving.

The travel advisory updates are as follows:

Level 3: Albania, Bolivia, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea-Bissau

Level 2: Gabon, Guinea, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, The Gambia, Zambia

Level 1: Cabo Verde, Comoros

Being Level 1 countries, the travel advisory pages of Cabo Verde and Comoros do not show any health and safety concerns for travelers. Of those countries that have been awarded Level 2 and Level 3 advisories, Covid-19 was cited as an issue on every country’s page, other than Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, travelers should be aware that other risks were also cited on the updates, ranging from crime and health issues to more serious threats such as terrorism and kidnapping.

Before taking any international vacations, travelers should do their research on the destination they are visiting, and travel advisories are a vital source of information. Whilst they don’t legally prevent a traveler from taking a trip – meaning travelers are free to visit a Level 4 country if they wish – they can help a person make an informed choice about whether or not it is safe to travel. Regardless of the destination and its warning level, travelers should make sure they have a solid travel insurance policy to keep them protected when abroad.

Read More:

This Popular Beach Destination Is One Of The Safest In Mexico

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19 For 2021

What It’s Like To Visit Thailand Right Now

↓ Join the community ↓

The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox

Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
[ad_2]

Source link
March 23, 2022