Mpox travel advice Summer 2025

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a virus which causes the disease Mpox (previously the disease was also called Monkeypox). It looks like many other pox viruses:

-       Rash of small sores on the skin

-       Mouth sores

-       Fever

-       Sore throat

-       Headache

-       Backache and body aches

-       Swollen glands

Mpox symptoms start a few days to several weeks after close contact with an infected person or animal - or after touching contaminated objects such as bed linens. Since the symptoms are similar to many other viral illnesses of childhood it is difficult to spot an infected person early unless you know they've had an infected contact.

In April 2025 WHO maintained that Mpox is a PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern) and they did so because the virus is affecting children most severely, because it's hard to diagnose early, and it can spread via international travellers.

There have been >26,000 cases between April 24 and April 25 and Mpox is now in atleast 24 countries (at the time of writing). This is the largest outbreak of Mpox ever and you should be thinking about Mpox if you are travelling.

Can I get a vaccine before I travel?

Mpox vaccine can sometimes prevent and almost always ameliorate symptoms, but the vaccine is not currently available for well travellers, as people who have been in contact with the disease are being prioritised for vaccination. While you may not be eligible to get a vaccine for your holiday, the oral treatment for Mpox is available to you on the NHS.

Groups who can access pre travel vaccine in the UK are:

-Humanitarian workers

-Medical staff and students

-MSM due to the risk of sexual transmission

*The vaccine is not licenced in pregnancy, as although pregnant women are at high risk there are no safety studies yet.

How do you catch Mpox during travel?

Mpox is usually caught by being close to people who are coughing and sneezing the virus. Children are most likely to catch it from close contacts such as family members and playmates. Other ways to contract Mpox are prolonged close contacts with people who have it (but may not yet have developed the rash) such as being seated next to a sick person for a long flight, using contaminated hotel bed-sheets and cutlery, sharing phones and other personal objects like razors. Sexual contact is also a major route of transmission, including all kinds of intercourse, kissing and intimate touching.

Young people from the UK often have sexual contacts when they travel overseas, with European studies showing that a high proportion of people between 15-19 have unprotected sex on holiday. Book a consultation to discuss ways to reduce your risk of Mpox sexual transmission.

I'm pregnant, should I be travelling?

Since Mpox is a Notifiable Disease you should be aware that you would not be allowed to board an international flight home with it, or with any suspicion of it. Mpox looks like other common childhood illnesses and its diagnosis is from a skin swab which takes time to give results, so there are 3 risks for pregnant women to consider:

1. Mpox is more severe in pregnant women and it can sometimes pass to the fetus causing miscarriage.

2. You could potentially get stuck in quarantine overseas: If this will take you past a gestation at which you can fly home then I strongly advise against travel to a country where there is an outbreak.

3. Few pregnant women worldwide have taken the Mpox treatment in studies so side-effects on the fetus are not fully understood.

Should I be worried about my children travelling?

Mpox is more severe in children and other people with low immunity.

You should be cautious travelling with a child into a monkeypox outbreak, but it's also very much about what they will be doing on the trip. The risk can be well mitigated and that is what I'm all about.

In children the frequent dosage of the treatment and the need to take the medicine with a heavy fat meal can make it hard to administer treatment properly. There are also no longterm studies of Mpox treatment in children so side-effects are somewhat unknown.

Feel free to book a consultation.

Happy travels 🌍