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Mpox in African countries

17 June 2025

The World Health Organization reports continuing transmission of mpox in Africa. Countries reporting laboratory-confirmed cases from 1 January 2025 to 18 May 2025 include:

Democratic Republic of the Congo: 8 085 cases (22 deaths)

Uganda: 4 972 cases (28 deaths)

Sierra Leone: 2 648 cases (14 deaths)

Burundi: 968 cases (no deaths)

Mpox is a zoonotic infection caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV) that occurs mostly in West and Central Africa.

Transmission occurs when a person comes into close contact with lesions, bodily fluids or respiratory droplets from an infected animal or human, or from contact with objects or materials which are contaminated with the virus.

Two different genetic groups (clades) of MPXV exist: Clade I and Clade II.

Advice for travellers

Those travelling to areas affected by ongoing mpox outbreaks should take sensible precautions to protect themselves from the risk of infection, by:

  • practising meticulous hand hygiene if visiting or caring for ill friends and relatives
  • avoiding contact with primates and rodents, including their blood and other parts, and avoid consuming undercooked meat from any source
  • wear protective clothing, including gloves, if involved in the slaughter of, or care of animals in these regions

Travellers to any destination who may be sexually active during travel (including GBMSM) should:

  • be aware of the risk of mpox
  • talk to sexual partners about their sexual health, ask if symptomatic and always practise safe sex
  • avoid close physical contact, including sexual contact with someone who is diagnosed with or has suspected mpox
  • maintain good personal hygiene and wash hands often, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • know the symptoms of mpox and check themselves regularly. Travellers should be aware it can take up to 3 weeks for symptoms to appear after contact with an infected person
  • share contact details with new sexual partners to help limit further transmission where cases occur
  • seek health advice and self-isolate whilst waiting to get tested if symptomatic

Vaccination

Routine pre-exposure vaccination against mpox infection is not recommended for the majority of people, except for those at high risk of exposure (e.g. some healthcare workers, people whose sexual networks mean they are more likely to come into contact with mpox).

For further information on the mpox vaccine, including eligibility, see:

The vaccination against mpox is only available through the NHS to eligible groups and is not currently available to purchase privately or at a pharmacy.

After Travel

Travellers should be advised to seek medical help during, or for 21 days after, travel if they develop symptoms of mpox and have:

  • had close contact with someone who may have mpox, or
  • returned from African countries where mpox is present. These travellers should also be screened for malaria.