Mpox: Advice for travellers

Original publication date: June 7, 2022

Updated: September 29, 2025

Key points

There are ongoing outbreaks of clade I mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding countries in Africa.
Mpox is a viral infection with a rash that may be painful. Most people recover without treatment after a few weeks.
Travellers can lower their risk of getting mpox by avoiding close physical contact with someone who has mpox, by practising safer sex methods, and by following other recommendations below.
The mpox vaccine is not routinely recommended for travellers, however, if you meet certain high-risk criteria, you may be eligible.

There are two main subtypes of the mpox virus, called clades: clade I and clade II.
Current information suggests that infection with clade I mpox virus may be more likely to cause severe illness and death compared to clade II.
Mpox can be spread from person to person, causing outbreaks. Outbreaks of this type are occurring in the following countries:
- Burundi
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- Ethiopia
- Kenya
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Republic of Congo
- Rwanda
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
There have also been travel-related clade I mpox cases reported outside of the African region.

Talk to a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably about 6 weeks before your departure date, to get personalized health advice. Even if your travel date is coming up soon, it's still worthwhile to make an appointment.
Delay your travel if you have any symptoms of mpox, or have been diagnosed with mpox.
Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to stay connected with the Government of Canada in case of an emergency abroad or an emergency at home.

Vaccination for travellers

The mpox vaccine is not routinely recommended for travellers without known exposure to mpox, unless they:
- meet high-risk criteria
- are a health care professional being deployed to support mpox clade I outbreaks (see information for health professionals section)
Before travel, check with your local public health authority to see if you are eligible for the mpox vaccine. The vaccine requires at least 4 weeks between the two doses.

You can be exposed to mpox in different situations, such as during:

sexual contact
- including oral or non-penetrative contact
close contact, including when:
- providing care at home
- living in the same household

Mpox is most often spread between people through:

To lower your risk of getting mpox:

avoid close physical contact, including sexual contact, with someone who has mpox
avoid close physical contact, including sexual contact, with someone who may have had a high-risk exposure to mpox, such as a sexual partner or household member of someone with mpox.
avoid contact with all personal items and objects used by someone with mpox

You can also lower your risk by:

getting vaccinated against mpox, if you’re eligible
using barrier protection during sexual activity, including:
- condoms
- dental dams
- gloves
- clothing
cleaning your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for 20 seconds or until dry

Learn more:

Be aware of the symptoms of mpox and talk and to a health care provider if you notice any new rash or lesions, even with no other symptoms.
If you’ve been exposed to mpox, watch for symptoms for 21 days, and avoid taking medications that are known to lower fever, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and acetylsalicylic acid. They may mask an early symptom of mpox infection.
If you develop mpox symptoms when you are travelling or after your return, you should immediately:
- isolate away from others
- contact a health care provider or local public health authority for advice on what to do
If you have symptoms that could be due to mpox during the flight, tell the flight attendant before you land or the border services officer as you enter the country. They will notify a quarantine officer who can assess your symptoms.

Learn more:

Mpox is a viral infection with a rash that may be painful. Most people recover without treatment after a few weeks. In rare cases, people can become very sick and die.
Symptoms usually start 7 to 10 days after being exposed to the virus, but they can appear as early as 3 or as late as 21 days.
The rash can be painful and can show up anywhere on the body, including
- face and mouth
- arms and legs
- hands and feet
- anus, rectum and genitals
Other symptoms may include:
- fever
- chills
- headache
- exhaustion
- swollen lymph node
- back, joint and muscle pain
People are contagious from the time symptoms start until the scabs have fallen off and the skin is healed.

Learn more:

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