Mpox outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
According to the latest risk assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the risk of contracting mpox infection in the general population in the EU/EEA remains very low, despite the ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The risk of contracting mpox for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) with multiple partners in the EU/EEA has also been assessed as low.
The outbreak in the DRC in 2023 is expanding, cases have become more widespread in the country, including in urban settings where mpox does not normally occur. Most of the cases in the DRC outbreak are caused by Monkeypox virus (MPXV) Clade I, which is more virulent than MPXV Clade II. In two provinces, outbreaks of Clade I MPXV associated with sexual contact have been reported for the first time, including among gbMSM.
There have been no Clade 1 cases in Ireland to date, and there is currently no evidence to suggest that MPXV Clade I is circulating in EU/EEA countries.
Mpox is spread through close contact, including contact with the skin rash of someone with mpox. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection: this includes sexual partners, household members, and healthcare workers. See Mpox - HSE.ie for further information.
Further information on mpox infection and management can be found on the HPSC website: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/zoonotic/monkeypox/