Mpox outbreak: How can UK travellers stay safe from the virus?

Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency on 14 August, tourists headed for Africa may have heightened concerns about the safety of their travel plans.

Mpox, a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, has a fatality rate of up to 11 per cent, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

As of October, over 1,000 deaths have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) amid an upsurge in cases.

Now, concerns are growing around travel to Africa after countries in Europe and Asia reported imported cases.

Following an announcement by health authorities that the first case of clade1b mpox was identified in London on Wednesday (30 October), here’s everything to know about safe travel during the mpox virus outbreak.

What is mpox?

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease spread by close person-to-person contact from the same family as the virus that causes smallpox.

There are two distinct strains of the virus: clade 1 and clade 2.

Clade 1, historically the more severe strain, is responsible for the current rise of cases in Central and Eastern Africa and had previously only been reported in five countries.

Split into clade 1a and clade 1b, clade 1b mpox first emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) just over a year ago, spreading mostly between adults through intimate and sexual contact.

Clade 2 mpox, the less-deadly of the two major variants, has been present in the UK since 2022 but is no longer considered a high-consequence infectious disease (HCID).

What are the symptoms of mpox?

According to the NHS, mpox symptoms take five to 21 days to first appear, with a rash usually appearing up to five days after the first symptoms.

The first symptoms of mpox include:

Although mpox is usually mild and can get better without treatment, travellers who develop mpox symptoms within 21 days of returning to the UK should call the NHS on 111 for advice.

Where have mpox cases been found?

In 2024, 18 countries in Africa have reported over 40,000 suspected mpox cases, with most remaining unconfirmed due to limited testing capacity, says WHO.

The DRC has been hit the hardest, with 1,005 deaths out of…