What is a travel alert and travel advisory?
A travel alert is a distinction by the CDC that an outbreak is occurring in a geographic area. The purpose of an alert is to provide accurate information to travelers about the status of the outbreak, how to reduce their risk for infection and what to do if they become ill. The risk for the individual traveler is felt to be definable and limited; transmission has occurred in defined settings or is associated with specific risk factors (e.g., transmission in a healthcare or hospital setting where ill patients are being cared for). There is NOT a recommendation against nonessential travel to the area. A travel advisory is a distinction by the CDC that an outbreak is occurring in a geographic area. The purpose of an advisory is to provide accurate information to travelers about the status of the outbreak and how to reduce their risk for infection. It also serves to reduce the volume of traffic to affected areas which in turn can reduce the risk of translocating the disease to previously u
