The UK government has released an updated list of countries posing a potential risk to British travelers due to the spread of mpox, a virus that has recently seen an increase in cases worldwide, including a few in the UK.

Previously known as monkeypox, mpox causes flu-like symptoms, rashes, or blisters and is primarily transmitted through close physical contact. While it was historically spread mainly through sexual contact, a newly identified strain has been reported to transmit via close breathing proximity.

Mpox is classified into two main types: Clade I and Clade II. The latter has been present in the UK since a major outbreak in the spring of 2022, prompting a vaccination campaign that ran until the following July. However, the situation remains more severe in other parts of the world.

New government data outlines the countries currently experiencing outbreaks and specifies the strains responsible:

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 previously reported Clade I mpox cases, no new infections have been detected during the 2024-2025 outbreak.

Countries with imported Clade I mpox cases, but with limited or no further transmission, include:

Belgium: Travel history to a Clade I-affected African country, limited household transmission

Canada: Travel history to a Clade I-affected African country

China: Travel history to DRC, limited close-contact transmission

France: Travel history to a Clade I-affected African country, limited close-contact transmission

Germany: Travel history to Rwanda, Tanzania, or other 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 a Clade I-affected African country

Thailand: Travel history to a Clade I-affected African country

USA: Travel history to a Clade I-affected African country

UK: Travel history to Clade I-affected African countries, limited household transmission

Zimbabwe: Travel history to Tanzania