Deadly virus tears by way of 11 nations sparking well being warning to travelling Brits
Mpox used to be transmitted almost exclusively through sexual contact, but a new strain was recently reported as being contagious via very close breathing proximity
The UK government has issued an update list of countries posing a risk to Brits who travel there due to a deadly virus. Mpox has been spreading across the world recently, with a small number of cases also detected in the UK.
The main areas impacted are African countries, but it is still a risk more widely, especially with travel bans not being put in place.
Previously known as monkeypox, the virus causes flu-like symptoms, rashes or blisters and can be contracted through physical contact. Notably, it used to be transmitted almost exclusively through sexual contact, but a new strain was recently reported as being contagious via close breathing proximity.
Mpox is typically contracted through close physical contact and is divided into two main types: clade I and clade II. The latter has been known in the UK for more than two years following a significant outbreak identified in spring 2022.
Following that outbreak, a vaccination programme was launched in the summer and concluded the next July – but the situation is far worse elsewhere.
New Government data now includes a full list of countries experiencing outbreaks and exactly which strain is causing issues.
- Burundi: Community transmission, Ib
- Central African Republic: Community transmission, Ia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: Community transmission, Ia and Ib
- Gabon: Community transmission, I
- Kenya: Community transmission, Ib
- Republic of the Congo: Community transmission, Ia
- Rwanda: Community transmission, Ib
- Tanzania: Unclear (evidence of exported cases), Ib
- Uganda: Community transmission, Ib
- United Arab Emirates: Unclear (evidence of exported cases), Ib
- Zambia: Community transmission, Ib
The UK Health Security agency also clarified that while Cameroon, South Sudan and Sudan have had historical transmissions of Clade I mpox, no cases have been reported during the 2024-2025 outbreak.
Countries with imported Clade I mpox cases with limited or no onward transmission:
- Belgium: Travel history to clade I affected African country, limited household transmission
- Canada: Travel history to clade I affected African country
- China: Travel history to DRC, limited close contact transmission
- France: Travel history to clade I affected African country, limited close contact transmission
- Germany: Travel history to Rwanda/Tanzania/clade I affected African countries, limited household transmission
- India: Travel history to UAE
- Ireland: Travel history to DRC
- Oman: Travel history to UAE
- Pakistan: Travel history to UAE
- Sweden: Travel history to clade I affected African country
- Thailand: Travel history to clade I affected African country
- USA: Travel history to clade I affected African country
- UK: Travel history to clade I affected African countries, limited household transmission
- Zimbabwe: Travel history to Tanzania
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