WHO conducted the latest global mpox risk assessment in August 2024. Based on the available information, the risk was assessed as:

• In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries, the overall risk is assessed as high.
• In areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where mpox is endemic, mpox risk is assessed as high.
• In Nigeria and other countries of West, Central and East Africa where mpox is endemic, mpox risk is assessed as moderate.

WHO risk assesment, see LINK.

Follow local media and local health authority advice. The following prevention measures should be followed during a stay in countries where mpox is endemic/epidemic (see also Factsheet mpox).

General precautions

• 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 you sexual partner have had mpox.
  • Follow advice of local authorities.
    
• When travelling to endemic / epidemic areas in Africa, in addition to above mentioned general precautions:
  
  • Avoid contact with and 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.
    

Vaccination

A vaccination against mpox is available (Jynneos®, manufactured by Bavarian Nordic). The Swiss Expert for Travel Medicine recommends vaccination against mpox in following situations, status 30 August 2024 (the recommendation will be updated regularly depending on the development of the outbreak):

1. People staying or travelling to Eastern D.R. Congo and Burundi in case of:

• Clinical, research or laboratory work
• Working with animals
  

(of note: broader indication is under discussion)

2. People staying outside of Eastern D.R. Congo and Burundi (worldwide) in case of

• Increase risk (e.g. laboratory workers handling mpox virus, men who have sex with men or trans-persons with multiple sexual partners), see Swiss recommendations: see Link.
  

At the present time, it is assumed that the available vaccine against mpox (e.g. Jynneos®) is also effective against the new 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 symptomatic and 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 evaluation and diagnosis: see CDC LINK.