051718 – World Status Report

Avoid Nonessential Travel

CDC

• Venezuela.  Health Infrastructure Breakdown in Venezuela. The CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Venezuela. The country is experiencing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and adequate health care is currently not available in most of the country.

U.S. Department of State

• Nicaragua.  Reconsider travel to Nicaragua due to crime and civil unrest.  Political rallies and demonstrations are occurring nearly daily, often with little notice or predictability. Some protests have resulted in injuries and deaths. Some demonstrations have elicited a strong response that has in the past included the use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and live ammunition against participants and occasionally have devolved into looting, vandalism, and acts of arson. Such acts may occur again in future demonstrations. Ability to purchase food and fuel may be limited suddenly, as recently occurred. Likewise, access to the Sandino airport in Managua may be blocked without warning. Both the Government of Nicaragua and the U.S. Embassy in Managua are limited in the assistance they can provide.

Take Enhanced Precautions

CDC

• Costa Rica.  A case of malaria has been reported in a US traveler who visited the Osa Peninsula in Puntarenas Province. This is an area where malaria is not typically found. Travelers to the Osa Peninsula should get medicine to prevent malaria before travel and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites during travel.

United Nations

• Security Council calls for calm following deadly Gaza clashes; diplomats debate US embassy move

Ebola News

CDC

• Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared a new outbreak of Ebola in the Bikoro area. The risk for most travelers to the DRC is low outside of the Bikoro area, but travelers could be infected if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.

ISOS

• Democratic Republic of the Congo.  An Ebola outbreak has been declared in Bikoro, Equateur Province. Defer non-essential travel to Bikoro / Ikoko-Impenge, Ingende, Iboko and Mbandaka until outbreak control measures have been definitively established.

WHO

• WHO concerned as one Ebola case confirmed in urban area of Democratic Republic of the Congo

United Nations

• Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Emergency meeting called as Ebola moves to Congolese city – UN health agency

Prepare for an emergency as a standard step of all your travels.  Additionally,  when traveling on behalf of UT Dallas, set up your institutional safety net.  Find more information in the Traveler Best Practices webpage.

The risk information in this report is retrieved from U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other professional sources as listed in the post. It provides general guidance for UT Dallas travelers. Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.