Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Event: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has re-issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Clade I Mpox in Central and Eastern Africawith updated guidance.
Actions to Take:
- Travelers SHOULD:
o Talk to your doctor about vaccinations options prior to travel as the supply of vaccine is extremely limited in the DRC. Mpox vaccination is now recommended for people, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, who anticipate the following sexual activities during travel to countries with ongoing person-to-person transmission of clade I mpox:
- Sex with a new partner
- Sex at a commercial sex venue (e.g., sex club or bathhouse)
- Sex in exchange for money, goods, drugs, or other trade
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- Sex in association with a large public event (e.g., rave, party, or festival)
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially before eating or touching your face and after you use the bathroom.
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o Learn more about which activities may increase your risk for mpox and how you can reduce your risk of mpox, including getting vaccinated if you’re eligible.
o Seek medical care immediately if you develop new, unexplained skin rash (lesions on any part of the body), with or without fever and chills, and avoid contact with others. If possible, call ahead before going to a healthcare facility. If you are not able to call ahead, tell a staff member as soon as you arrive that you are concerned about Mpox.
- Travelers should AVOID:
- Close contact with people who are sick with signs and symptoms of mpox, including those with skin or genital lesions.
- Contact with wild animals (alive or dead), such as small mammals, including rodents (rats, squirrels), and non-human primates (monkeys, apes).
- Eating or preparing meat from wild animals (bushmeat) or using products (creams, lotions, powders) derived from wild animals.
- Contact with contaminated materials used by sick people (such as clothing, bedding, or materials used in healthcare settings) or that came into contact with infected animals.
- Situations that might increase your risk for mpox, but especially people with risk factors for infection and/or who are at risk for severe disease (e.g., pregnant people, infants younger than 1 year, people with eczema or active skin conditions, and people who are immunocompromised).
- If you are sick and could have Mpox, delay travel by public transportation until you have been cleared by a healthcare professional or public health officials.
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