Mpox: Current situation
On 5th September, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox international public health emergency (PHEIC) over for a second time. This decision was made because of sustained declines in cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other affected countries including Burundi, Sierra Leone and Uganda. Although outbreaks are still happening, the disease no longer meets the threshold of an international health emergency. Mpox has not gone away, and countries should continue with public health measures developed during the emergency phase.
Cases in Ireland
Cases of mpox continue to occur at low levels in Ireland. Information on mpox cases is published on the HPSC's national notifiable disease hub and STI Reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Most cases notified in Ireland are clade IIb mpox; a very small number of mpox cases notified have been clade I. There has been a small cluster of clade Ib mpox cases; three confirmed and one probable case. The confirmed cases were two females, and one male, one of whom is a child. The first confirmed case was linked to a traveller who had recently returned from the Eastern Mediterranean region (the probable case); there were two cases in close contacts of the first case, all other contacts are well. All cases have recovered. The risk to the Irish population remains low.
For information on countries where cases are occurring see clade I mpox affected countries (Source: UKHSA).
For information on global trends in mpox see WHO Global mpox trends and the Mpox worldwide overview.
The public are asked to follow Public Health advice, particularly if travelling to or from a country in Africa where mpox cases are occurring.
About mpox
Mpox is an uncommon infection that is caused by the mpox virus. Mpox spreads 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 health & care workers. Mpox may also spread from animals to people in areas where infected animals are found.
There are two different types of the mpox virus – called clade I and clade II. Each clade of the virus has subclades; these are clade Ia, clade Ib, clade IIa and clade IIb. Clade IIb caused the global outbreak in 2022-2023, and mainly affected gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Since August 2024, clade I mpox, both clade Ia and Ib, as well as clade IIb mpox outbreaks have been occurring in Africa.
Symptoms and signs
For symptoms and signs of mpox and advice on what to do if you think you have mpox, please see https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/mpox/
Travel Advice
To protect yourself and others against mpox, know the signs and symptoms of mpox, how the virus spreads, what to do if you get sick, and the risk of mpox infection in the area that you are planning to travel to. Information on countries affected by mpox is available from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mpox needs close or intimate contact to spread, so casual (passing) contact like you might have during travel is not likely to cause infection. If the virus is spreading in the area that you are travelling to, have conversations with those you come into close contact with about any symptoms they may have.
People can protect themselves by:
- Avoiding close contact (including sexual contact) with people who are sick with signs and symptoms of mpox, including those with a rash (blisters or scabs)
- Avoiding contact with wild animals (alive or dead and including their meat and blood) in areas where mpox regularly occurs. Any food containing animal parts or meat should be cooked thoroughly before eating
- Avoiding contact with contaminated materials used by people who are sick (such as clothing, bedding, towels etc.) or that had been in contact with wild animals
- Washing hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitiser containing at least 70% alcohol.
If you think you might have mpox when you are abroad, seek medical advice as soon as possible, and isolate from others until you have been checked and tested. If you have mpox, you should isolate yourself from others until all your lesions have crusted over, the scabs have fallen off and a new layer of skin has formed underneath.
When you return from travel
As symptoms of mpox may take time to develop, in the 21 days after leaving the affected country, if you have any mpox symptoms, self-isolate and phone your doctor promptly, telling them about your recent travel, so that you can be assessed.