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Mpox in African countries

17 Jun 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.

Advice to Travellers

Mpox (Monkeypox) is a rare viral infection that causes a high temperature (fever) and a body rash lasting a few weeks.

If you are travelling to countries where mpox is present you should:

  • practise careful hand hygiene, especially if you are visiting or caring for ill friends and relatives

  • avoid contact with monkeys and rodents (for example rats, mice, squirrels), including their blood and other parts, and avoid eating undercooked meat from any animals
  • wear protective clothing, including gloves, if you are involved in the slaughter of, or care and/or treatment of animals in these regions

If you are travelling to any destination and will be sexually active during travel (including GBMSM) you should:

  • be aware of the risk of mpox
  • talk to sexual partners about their sexual health, ask if they have symptoms and always practise safe sex 
  • avoid close physical contact, including sexual contact, with someone who is unwell and may have mpox
  • always share contact details with new sexual partners to help limit further spread of infection if you become infected
  • maintain good personal hygiene and wash hands often, avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • know the symptoms of mpox and check yourself regularly; be aware it can take up to 3 weeks for symptoms to appear after contact with an infected person
  • seek health advice and isolate yourself from others whilst waiting to get tested if you have symptoms of mpox

Vaccine

The vaccination against mpox is only available through the NHS to those at high risk of exposure, and is not currently available to purchase privately or at a pharmacy. For more information about the mpox vaccine, including information on high-risk groups and eligibility, see:

For further information on the disease and how you can protect yourself, see the Mpox, Sexual Health Risks and LGBT travellers pages.

After Travel

Seek medical advice during, and for 21 days after travelling if you develop symptoms of mpox and:

  • you have have returned from from a country where mpox is present.  Also make sure you are checked for malaria if returning from these countries as the symptoms may appear similar, or
  • had close contact with someone who may have mpox