Clade Ib mpox virus (MPXV) (emerging clade): Available evidence suggests exclusive human-to-human contact transmission for this virus clade. Within the last 6 weeks, outbreaks continue to be reported in DRC (2’706 clade Ia/b), Uganda (914), Burundi (121), Kenya (66), Rwanda (1), Zambia (16), Congo (12, clade Ia, Ib, and IIa/b), Tanzania (15), Malawi (33), Ethiopia (18), and South Sudan. Travel-associated cases have been reported in several countries, including recently in China and Australia. For more information, see LINK.
Clade Ia MPXV is endemic in the following countries: DRC, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Cameroun, Sudan. Travel-related cases have been reported in China and Ireland. Epidemiological data and phylogenetic analyses still suggest that many outbreaks of clade Ia MPXV result from zoonotic spillover with secondary human-to-human transmission. However, there is emerging evidence of increasing sustained human-to-human transmission of one lineage of clade Ia MPXV from 2024, mainly through sexual contact, in Kinshasa.
Clade IIa MPXV is endemic in West Africa with rare zoonotic spillover to humans. Since 2024, increased number of cases in adults and children reported from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Liberia in different locations, including their capital cities. Genomic sequencing analyses suggest the occurrence of repeated zoonotic spillover events followed by limited secondary human-to-human transmission.
Clade IIb MPXV (emerging clade): Available evidence suggests exclusive human-to-human contact transmission for this virus clade. Clade IIb sub-lineage B.1 (global epidemic in 2022) is still circulating worldwide at low level. Clade IIb sub-lineages A.x are circulating in Africa and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Within the last 6 weeks, outbreaks of clade IIb sub-lineages A.2 with community transmission have been reported from West Africa with Sierra Leone particularly affected (2’698 cases). In addition, cases have been reported from Liberia (100), Ghana (80 cases), Nigeria (17), Togo (18), Côte d’Ivoire (9), Guinea (1).
Weekly trends in Africa, see also LINK.
Mpox affected countries in Africa (source dashboard WHO):
Follow local media and local health authority advice. Prevention measures should be followed during a stay in countries where mpox is endemic/epidemic (see also Factsheet Mpox).
General precautions (most important preventive measure!)
- Worldwide:
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have or may have mpox or people who have a rash (e.g., pimples, blisters, scabs).
- Wash your hands often with soap + water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid touching potentially contaminated personal items such as bedding/clothing, towels or sharing eating utensils/cups, food or drink with a person who has, or may have mpox.
- Avoid sex with sick persons; use of condoms for up to 12 weeks if your sexual partner have had mpox.
- Follow advice of local authorities.
- Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have or may have mpox or people who have a rash (e.g., pimples, blisters, scabs).
- When travelling to endemic / epidemic areas in Africa, in addition to above mentioned general precautions:
- Avoid contact with animals in areas where mpox regularly occurs.
- Avoid eating or preparing meat from wild animals (bushmeat) or using products (creams, lotions, powders) derived from wild animals.
- Avoid contact with animals in areas where mpox regularly occurs.
Vaccination
Recommendation of the Swiss Expert for Travel Medicine as of 23 June 2025:
1. Staying or travelling in African countries with mpox clade I and clade II outbreaks (see news):
Vaccination against mpox should only be considered for individuals at high risk and for whom proper implementation of the above general precautions is not possible (risk evaluation / consultation of a specialist in travel medicine is recommended!). High-risk situations are considered such as:
- Health care and humanitarian work, including research or laboratory work
- Working with animals
- Commercial sex or multiple sexual partners
2. Staying in countries with mpox clade IIb sublineage B.1 (outside of Africa) in case of:
- Increased risk (e.g. laboratory workers handling mpox virus, men who have sex with men, trans-persons with multiple sexual partners), see Swiss recommendations: see LINK.
The available vaccine against mpox (e.g. Jynneos®) is also effective against clade I. This vaccine is considered safe and highly effective in preventing severe mpox disease.
In case of symptoms:
- Seek medical attention immediately.
If you are diagnosed with mpox:
- Please stay at home (isolate yourself) until your mpox rash has healed and a new layer of skin has formed. Staying away from other people and not sharing things you have touched with others will help prevent the spread of mpox. People with mpox should regularly clean and disinfect the spaces they use to limit household contamination.
- Wash your hands often with soap / water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
- You should not have sex while while you have lesions or symptoms. Use condoms for 12 weeks after infection. This is a precaution to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to a partner.
- For more information on what do if you are sick, see CDC LINK.
For clinicians:
- Consider mpox as a possible diagnosis in patients with epidemiologic characteristics and lesions or other clinical signs and symptoms consistent with mpox. This includes persons who have been in DRC or, due to the demonstrated risks of regional spread, any of its neighboring countries in the previous 21 days.
- Further information on clinical management and infection control for mpox (see WHO living guideline) and CDC LINK.