Mpox Outbreak: Should travellers to Africa be concerned?
Should travellers to Africa be concerned about mpox? The latest mpox outbreak in Africa has been declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the WHO. It is important to note that mpox is an STD which is primarily transmitted via sexual contact. This latest outbreak is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. As at 28 August 2024, there are no current cases of clade Ib mpox in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, or Kenya at the moment. Kenya had one case of clade Ib which has been treated, and there are no other active cases. South Africa had 24 cases of clade II mpox (the 2022 strain), all of them among gay or bisexual men. The risk in Africa's safari and tourism destinations to the general traveller is virtually zero, and there is absolutely no reason to cancel, postpone, or reconsider your travel plans. It is perfectly safe to go on a safari to Africa.
Where is the current Mpox outbreak?
The current mpox outbreak based on a clade Ib variant of MPXV is primarily concentrated in certain parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in central Africa, and doesn't pose a widespread risk across the entire continent. While there are isolated cases in other countries around the world, the vast majority of cases are found in the DRC, particularly in the west of the country.
During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, the epidemic was limited mainly to three countries in west Africa, but all of Africa suffered tourism losses because news media kept referring to "Ebola in Africa", and the lack of geographical understanding made people fearful to travel to any African countries, even those with no Ebola cases, thousands of miles away from the outbreak.
With mpox, we are starting to see the same trend again. Africa is a vast and diverse continent with 54 countries, geographically larger than China, the United States, and Europe combined.
Here's a map:
A Google Map showing the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa.
It's important to note that outside of the DRC, in popular tourist destinations like South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, and Tanzania, there is no active outbreak and no current cases of clade 1b MPXV. Here is a list of countries that have had cases of the clade 1b variant. Kenya has so far had only one case of clade Ib, already treated. South Africa and Tanzania have had none. (The 24 mpox cases recorded in South Africa are from an earlier variant and all of them were found in gay or bisexual men. These cases do not form part of the current outbreak and PHEIC.)
For those travelling to Africa and not visiting the DRC, there is absolutely no need to cancel or postpone your plans.
The risk for a tourist in popular safari destinations like Southern Africa and East Africa is virtually zero, and no different to the risk you face in your own home country.
How does Mpox spread? What is the transmission risk?
Mpox is an STD that spreads via bodily fluids, mainly through sexual contact. It is not an airborne virus. While it can spread to healthcare workers or immediate family members who have sustained, close personal contact with infected patients, it primarily spreads through intimate contact of a sexual nature. A position paper published by Oxford Academic concluded that it is a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD). The WHO states that the current outbreak in the DRC is “driven by sexual transmission and other forms of close physical contact”. A 2022 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that over 98% of cases were transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse between men.
Unfortunately, many news articles avoid mentioning this for fear of sounding discriminatory, but the reality is that prostitutes, their clients, and men who have sex with men are the population groups most at risk of contracting mpox. It is important to mention this, not only to facilitate better-targeted interventions and communication with at-risk populations, but also to put the level of risk in perspective for the ordinary person who does not engage in risky behaviour.
For the average tourist visiting Africa, the risk of contracting mpox on a flight, at the airport, or during your safari is virtually zero, especially when following basic hygiene guidelines, like regular handwashing.
Is it safe to travel to Africa during the current mpox outbreak? Should I cancel my trip?
There is absolutely no need to be concerned or to alter your travel plans. Most safari destinations and tourist regions are not affected by this outbreak, and the risk of infection is virtually zero for the average traveller.
Naturally, we continue to follow WHO guidelines and our best-practice health and safety protocols on every safari are designed to ensure the well-being of every traveller, so you can travel with confidence.
If you have any questions or concerns about the current mpox outbreak and your upcoming trip to Africa, please reach out to us. We are here to help, and your health and safety is our top priority.
About the author
Onne Vegter is the managing director of Wild Wings Safaris. He has a deep love for Africa's people, wildlife and natural heritage. Having travelled extensively to Africa's top safari destinations, his writing is based on his personal travel adventures and decades of experience in the safari industry. Follow him on X at @OnneVegter.
