- Smallpox cases are on the rise in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries.
- The first case outside Africa was detected in Sweden last week.
- Travelers do not need to be overly concerned yet, but experts recommend getting vaccinated before traveling to African countries where the virus is circulating.
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With mpox cases in motion After a rise in cases in Africa, travelers may fear health risks.
The disease – formerly called monkeypox – is on the rise in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries. first case outside Africa was detected in Sweden last week.
The type circulating there, known as clade I, is different from clade II, which was present in the United States after a global outbreak in 2022. A new variant, clade Ib, appears to be more transmissible and deadly. The World Health Organization has declared MPOX a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.
But travelers need not worry too much yet.
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“I think they should be mindful of it,” Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert and professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told USA TODAY. “I don’t think they should be concerned about it.”
What is mpox?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smallpox is endemic in parts of central and western Africa.
“People usually contract MPOX through contact with skin lesions or bodily fluids from infected wild animals in Africa (live or dead) or humans, including respiratory secretions, or through contact with materials contaminated with the virus such as bedding, clothing and sex toys,” the health agency said. stated on his websiteThe virus can also be contracted through sexual intercourse or other close contact.
Common symptoms include headache, muscle aches, rash, swollen lymph nodes and fever.
At least a dozen African countries affected by the outbreak have recorded more than 2,800 confirmed cases this year and more than 500 deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThere are more than 17,000 suspected cases across the continent.
Should travelers be concerned about MPOX?
Schaffner recommended that travelers to African countries where the virus is circulating get vaccinated before they leave, given the “highly transmissible” nature of the new strain. Level 2 advice in force for the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries, warning travelers to “take enhanced precautions.”
“I think if you're traveling to other countries right now, there's virtually no risk,” Schaffner added.
Thailand has detected a case of MPOX in a European who arrived from Africa last week and is awaiting test results to determine the strain, a disease control official said on Wednesday.
Although clade II cases in the United States have primarily been seen in men who have sex with men — although anyone can be infected — Schaffner said the clade I cases circulating in Africa appear to be “more generally distributed.”
How can travelers protect their health?
According to Schaffner, travelers who got vaccinated against MPOX following the 2022 outbreak do not need a booster dose at this time. “It looks like your protection is still going to be viable, so that’s a very good thing,” he said.
The CDC also recommended that travelers to the DRC or neighboring countries avoid close contact with people with symptoms of COPD and wild animals such as rats, squirrels and monkeys – alive or dead.
Visitors should also avoid wild meat and products, including lotions, creams and powders, and avoid contaminated materials. Schaffner said hotel bedding and linens are safe, as long as they are “properly laundered.”
Travelers who experience a “new unexplained rash” should seek medical attention immediately.
Schaffner said infectious disease experts expect further spread of MPOX to other countries and advised travelers to stay tuned for developments.
“The world is a very small place,” he said. “These viruses travel with us. They don’t need passports.”
Contribute:Pararat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um, Reuters
Nathan Diller is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. He can be reached at ndiller@usatoday.com.
