022619 World Status Report

When traveling on behalf of UT Dallas, set up your institutional safety net and prepare for an emergency as a standard step of all your travels.  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.

Avoid Nonessential Travel

Conflict and Terrorism

• Afghanistan – GOV.AU. There is a heightened threat of terrorist attack in the lead up to presidential elections in 2019, and possibly beyond. Avoid political rallies and other election-related gatherings as they could turn violent without warning.
• Niger – GC.CA. Avoid all travel to Niger, with the exception of the capital, Niamey, due to the risks of terrorism and kidnapping. Avoid non-essential travel to Niamey, due to crime and the risk of kidnapping.

Take Enhanced Precautions

Conflict and Terrorism

• Egypt – GC.CA. On February 18, 2019, a suicide blast near a Cairo market, popular among tourists, killed 3 policemen. On December 28, 2018, a bus carrying tourists was attacked near the pyramids of Giza. The explosion resulted in multiple casualties.‎‎ There is an increased risk of attacks on and around dates of national significance, including January 25, the anniversary of the 2011 Egyptian revolution, the weekend of Orthodox Easter (April 29 – May 1), June 30 to July 3, the anniversary of the removal of former president Mohamed Morsi, August 14, the anniversary of clearing protesters from Rabaa and al-Nahda squares and, possibly, during Ramadan and other religious observances and holidays. Exercise increased caution during these periods.
• India – GC.CA. On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber hit a convoy of paramilitary vehicles traveling on a highway near the town of Srinagar. The attack resulted in many casualties. Violent demonstrations have been taking place following the incident in many cities of Jammu and Kashmir. There are several security forces to patrol the streets. The situation could quickly deteriorate. Internet access is difficult and has been blocked in some places in the area. If you are in this region remain extremely vigilant at all times, monitor local media to stay informed on the ongoing situation and follow the instructions of local authorities.
• North Macedonia – GOV.UK. On 15 February 2019, authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia carried out a series of raids in an operation against suspected terrorists. There’s a risk of terrorist attacks inspired by extremist ideology in North Macedonia.
• Kenya – GOV.AU. A terror attack could happen anywhere and at any time in Kenya. Somali terror group Al-Shabaab continues to threaten attacks. Credible information indicates that Westerners may be targeted by extremists in Nairobi, Naivasha, Nanyuki and coastal areas of Kenya. Many people have been killed or injured in terror attacks in Kenya in recent years. Be particularly alert in public places such as shopping malls, hotels and places of worship. Exercise a high degree of caution in Kenya due to the high threat of terrorist attack and high level of crime. Reconsider your need to travel to Mombasa, coastal parts of Kilifi and Tana River counties, and Lamu County south of Pate Island. Higher levels apply in other parts of the country.
• Saudi Arabia – U.S. Department of State – Exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to terrorism and the threat of missile and drone attacks on civilian targets. Do not travel within 50 miles of the border with Yemen due to terrorism and armed conflict. Read the entire travel advisory.

Crime and Social Unrest

• France – GOV.AU. Demonstrations linked to the Yellow Vest movement may continue across France for some time, including in tourist areas. Protests mostly happen on Saturdays. Avoid all demonstrations, as they can turn violent. Monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities.
• Jamaica – GOV.AU. The Jamaican government has set up special zones for the military to support police in responding to increased violence and shooting incidents. These zones are in place until the end of March 2019 in Denham Town in Kingston and Mount Salem in Montego Bay. Anticipate road closures and travel delays. Other measures, including local curfews may be taken with little or no notice. Exercise caution in these areas, particularly if travelling at night. Monitor local media and follow instructions issued by local authorities.
• Peru – GOV.UK. There have been a number of recent thefts at gunpoint affecting foreign nationals, including British tourists and residents, in tourist areas of Miraflores and Barranco. These have taken place both during the day and at night. In early 2019 there have also been a small number of robberies in and around luxury lodges near Puerto Maldonado city in the Madre de Dios region, some of which have been at gunpoint. As with travel across the country, you should remain aware of your surroundings and avoid wearing or displaying expensive items. In the event of a robbery, do not attempt to resist attackers or take any action that puts you at greater risk. Report the matter to local police as soon as possible. If the incident takes place in a lodge or hotel, staff will be able to assist.
• Senegal – U.S. Department of State – Exercise increased caution in Senegal due to elections, crime, and landmines.  Presidential elections in Senegal are scheduled for February 24, 2019. If no candidate wins a majority during the initial balloting, a second round will be held, either on March 10, March 17, or March 24, with March 17 the most likely date. Tensions are typically heightened during campaign and election periods, and some election-related demonstrations and other activities have resulted in violence. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
• Venezuela – GOV.UK. A number of Venezuela’s land and sea borders are subject to closure. The border with Colombia is open to foot traffic only, and on 21 February 2019, the Venezuelan de facto authorities ordered the temporary closure of the land border with Brazil. The sea borders with Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are also temporarily closed, with no air or sea traffic operating between Venezuela and these islands. If you’re planning travel in the region on any of these routes, contact your tour operator for more information.

Demonstrations

• Albania – GC.CA. On February 16 and 21, 2019, major demonstrations took place in Tirana. Acts of vandalism as well as confrontations between demonstrators and security forces occurred during one of the demonstrations. Clashes resulted in many injuries. Further demonstrations could occur in the coming weeks.
• Algeria – GC.CA, GOV.UK. Presidential elections are due to take place on April 18, 2019. Demonstrations against some candidacies are scheduled to take place across the country on February 22, 2019. Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place. Outside major towns, small protests or strikes can affect transport. Follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media for the latest information.
• Democratic Republic of Congo – GC.CA. Demonstrations may occur. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent suddenly. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation including access to N’Djili International Airport in Kinshasa. Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place. Follow the instructions of local authorities. Don’t attempt to cross road blockades, even if they appear unattended. Plan to have adequate water and food supplies in the event that main supply points are temporarily inaccessible. Monitor local media for the latest information.
• Haiti – GC.CA. On February 7, 2019, violent protests broke out across the country. Clashes, sometimes involving the use of firearms, have resulted in casualties. Although most related roadblocks have been dismantled, the situation remains fluid and unpredictable. Access to the Toussaint Louverture International Airport may be difficult and could be blocked without notice. Further demonstrations could also occur at any time. If you currently are in Haiti avoid large gatherings, avoid crossing road blockades, even if they appear unattended, plan to have adequate fuel, water and food supplies, contact your airline or tour operator before travelling to confirm your flight’s schedule and availability and only travel to the airport if you can do so safely.
• Nigeria – GOV.AU, GOV.UK. Presidential elections will be held on 23 February and Governor and State Assembly elections on 9 March 2019.  Throughout the electoral period, protests in Abuja and Nigerian states including Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara and Rivers are of particular concern. Public gatherings and demonstrations may take place at short notice and have the potential to turn violent. Avoid rallies, demonstrations and large crowds as they could turn violent with little warning. Telecommunications networks may be disrupted in the event of civil unrest or crisis. Monitor local media. Restrictions on road movements and border crossings may occur during the election period. Domestic and international flights may be affected. Travel could therefore be restricted in some parts of the country while voting continues. If you’re planning to travel over the election period you should factor these restrictions, potential disruption or changes at short notice into your travel plans and keep up to date with the latest travel information from your airline or transport provider.
• Ukraine – GC.CA. Presidential elections are scheduled to take place in Ukraine on March 31, 2019.‎ A second round could be necessary, depending on the results in the first round. Political gatherings, demonstrations and protests are likely during the electoral period. Acts of violence around these events could occur. Heightened security measures may be in place. Be cautious during the campaign period‎. Avoid any demonstrations and large gatherings‎. Monitor local media to stay informed of the current situation‎ and follow the advice of local authorities‎.

Entry and Exit Requirements

• Malaysia – GOV.UK. The Malaysian authorities are running a vigorous campaign against illegal immigration. Don’t overstay your visa, or violate the terms of entry. Even if you overstay for just a few days, you can be fined, detained, deported to the UK and blacklisted. Flight costs will be the responsibility of the individual.

Health

• Madagascar – GOV.AU. Madagascar is experiencing a measles outbreak, with 114 districts out of 116 affected by the outbreak and 91 declared an epidemic situation. WHO estimates the overall risk for Madagascar from the current outbreak to be very high. Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel.
• Luxembourg, Belgium – ECDC. Salmonella Poona in infant products. Luxembourg and Belgium reported one case each of S. Poona infection in January 2019 in infants who had consumed the same brand of infant formula.
• Saudi Arabia, Oman– ECDC. MERS-CoV. In 2019 and as of 19 February 2019, 77 MERS-CoV cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia (67) and Oman (10), of which 57 were male, 15 female and 5 had no information on gender. There were also 16 deaths in Saudi Arabia (12) and Oman (4). In Saudi Arabia, 29 cases were primary, 25 healthcare-acquired, 10 household contacts and 3 under investigation. Of the primary cases, 14 reported camel contact. The majority of the cases (85%) were reported in Wadi Aldwasir (44) and Riyadh (13).
• Europe – ECDC. Influenza. From 11 – 17 February 2019, influenza activity was widespread in the European Region.
• Brazil, the Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Thailand – ECDC. Chikungunya. Several countries in the Americas report ongoing transmission in 2019. Since the previous CDTR update on 25 January 2019, Brazil, the Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Thailand have reported the majority of new cases. No outbreaks have been identified in the Australia and Pacific region and Europe since the last report.
• Brazil, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Jamaica – ECDC. Dengue. Brazil, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have observed an increasing trend in the number of cases compared with 2018. New outbreaks have been reported in Jamaica, Kenya, Oman and Tanzania. Cases have also started to significantly increase in Réunion.
• China – ECDC. Influenza A(H9N2). On 15 February 2019, an additional case of human infection with H9N2 avian influenza was confirmed in Yunnan Province, China. The patient is a 8-year-old female who developed symptoms on 27 January 2019. She had mild illness and no history of live poultry exposure. This is the first case of A(H9N2) reported in China with onset of symptoms in 2019.
• Papua New Guinea – WHO. On 26 June 2018, an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) was declared in Papua New Guinea following laboratory confirmation of cVDPV1 isolation in two healthy community contacts of the index case. Since the declaration, a total of 26 confirmed cVDPV1 cases have been reported in the following nine provinces: Eastern Highlands (six), Enga (five), East Sepik (four), Madang (three), Morobe (three), Jiwaka (two), Gulf (one), Southern Highlands (one), and National Capital District (NCD) (one). The last laboratory-confirmed case reported having experienced the onset of paralysis in late October 2018. Environmental surveillance continues on a bimonthly basis in Port Moresby and Lae to complement active acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case search efforts.
• United Kingdom – ECDC. Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The first case, a heterosexual female, reported casual sexual contact with male UK nationals in Ibiza Spain, in September 2018. The second case, a heterosexual female, reported casual sexual contact in the UK in November 2018 with a male who had been in Ibiza from June until September 2018. The UK incident management team could trace sexual partners of the second case.

Law and Culture

• Bangladesh – GOV.UK. Chattogram airport has now re-opened following the earlier security incident. Some travel disruption is still possible. You should monitor airport information for updates
• Honduras – GC.CA. If you plan on buying or selling property, or making other investments in Honduras, seek the advice of a lawyer in Canada and in Honduras. Do so before making commitments. Real estate transactions, laws and practices can be complex and differ considerably from those in United States. Related disputes could take time and be costly to resolve. Many tourists have reported complications during a real estate transaction in Honduras. Choose your own lawyer or notary and avoid hiring the one recommended by the seller. Go on site before buying a property to see what you’re buying. Carefully review the sales contract as it may contain irregularities such as a contestation of title deeds. Confirm the name of the last owner and verify that the property is free of any mortgage or taxes from the local property registry (Instituto de la propiedad). Consult a Honduran lawyer specializing in real estate law if you suspect fraud.
• Malaysia – GOV.UK. There are severe penalties for all drug offences; this includes amphetamine-type stimulants. Trafficking incurs a mandatory death penalty. Possession incurs a custodial sentence and possible whipping. You could be asked to take a urine test on arrival in Malaysia if you’re suspected of having used drugs before your visit. Urine tests can also be taken when individuals are detained following raids on bars and nightclubs. If the test is positive, you could be detained, charged and/or deported and blacklisted.
• Malaysia – GOV.UK. You can drive in Malaysia with an International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to one year from your date of entry into Malaysia. After a year, you will need to get a Malaysian driving license.
• Niger – GC.CA,  GOV.UK, On 7 December 2018, the national cabinet declared a state of emergency in response to an escalation in terrorist attacks, over the urban municipality of Tillabéri, which came into effect on 13 February 2019. A curfew is in effect in Diffa region from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. The movement of motorcycles and cars is banned from 7pm to 6am, and the movement of pedestrians is banned from 10pm to 6am. Public meetings are banned, unless expressly permitted by the authorities. Defense and security forces are authorised to carry out searches, and to check identities, both day and night. A state of emergency is also in effect in the Nigerian states of Borno and Yobe, which border southeast Niger. Instability in these states could spill over into Niger. Follow the instructions of local authorities, including curfew orders.
• Venezuela – GC.CA. The borders with Brazil and Colombia are closed until further notice. The maritime borders with Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire are also closed. Flights to and from those islands are suspended until further notice.

Natural Disasters and Climate

Droughts

• Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 3 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zimbabwe – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 4 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• Australia – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 2 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• China, India, Myanmar, Nepal – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 8 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• Dominican Republic, Haiti – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 3 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.
• Peru – GDACS. The drought has lasted for 3 months. Drought indicators suggest anomalies typical of severe to extreme events.

Heavy rain and floods

• Chile – GC.CA, GOV.UK. Heavy rain in northern Chile has caused severe flooding in some areas since the beginning of February 2019. Several streets are impassable and some affected areas have been evacuated. Heavy showers and thunderstorms are forecast to continue through to the end of the month. It may cause flash flooding and landslides and could severely disrupt essential services. Flooding has also affected the Torres del Paine National Park, in the south of the country, where trekking routes can be closed without notice. If you are in the affected areas monitor local news and weather reports, follow the instructions of local authorities including evacuation orders and contact your travel agent to determine if the situation will disrupt travel arrangements.
• Trinidad and Tobago – GOV.UK. Heavy rain has caused flooding in some areas of Trinidad. The local authorities are advising people in affected areas to avoid unnecessary journeys and stay at home.

Earthquakes

• Ecuador – GDACS, GOV.UK. On 2/22/2019 10:17:22 AM, an earthquake occurred in Ecuador, in the in Morona Santiago province in the Amazon region, potentially affecting About 46000 people within 100km. A low number of damaged buildings across the country have been reported. Ecuador is situated in an area of intense seismic activity. There is a high risk of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. You should make sure you are aware of the risks and are familiar with the relevant safety and evacuation procedures. In the event of a natural disaster, you should monitor official channels such as the Ecuadorean National Geophysical Institute and the National Service for Risk and Emergency Management (both Spanish only), and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Ebola News

• Democratic Republic of the Congo – CDC. There is an outbreak of Ebola in the North Kivu (Kivu Nord) and Ituri provinces in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The outbreak is in a part of the country identified by the U.S. State Department as a “do not travel” zone because of armed group activities and major outbreaks of violence targeting civilians. The armed conflict and violence in the outbreak area is hampering response activities including early identification of cases, and monitoring of “contacts” (people who may have been exposed to Ebola). Travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids. Travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, headache, body aches, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, rash, or red eyes during or after travel. CDC has provided recommendations for US health care workers and sponsoring organizations to ensure workers are healthy when they return to the United States.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo – ECDC. Ebola. Since the previous CDTR, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 24 additional cases. As of 20 February 2019, according to the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 853 Ebola virus disease cases (788 confirmed, 65 probable), including 531 deaths (466 in confirmed and 65 in probable cases), since the beginning of the outbreak. On 19 February 2019, Beni health zone reached 21 days without new confirmed Ebola virus disease cases. The outbreak in Beni health zone, where 234 cases including 127 deaths were reported, peaked between September-November 2018. As of 14 February 2019, according to WHO Disease outbreak news, 68 healthcare workers have been infected to date.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo – WHO. WHO continuously monitors changes to the epidemiological situation and context of the outbreak to ensure that support to the response is adapted to the evolving circumstances. National and regional risk levels remain very high, though global risk levels remain low. This EVD outbreak is affecting primarily the north-eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo bordering Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan. There is a potential risk for transmission of EVD at the national and regional levels due to extensive travel between the affected areas, the rest of the country, and neighbouring countries for economic and personal reasons, as well as due to insecurity. The country is concurrently experiencing other epidemics (e.g. cholera, vaccine-derived poliomyelitis, malaria, measles), and a long-term humanitarian crisis. Additionally, the fragile security situation in North Kivu and Ituri, further limits the implementation of response activities.

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.