Following the emergence of a new clade of monkeypox virus (MPXV) that appears to have adapted to humans, clade Ib, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and its spread to neighbouring countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). The French High Council for Public Health (HCSP) is issuing an advisory to prevent the risk of exposure to MPXV infection for professionals and travellers going to epidemic areas.

After assessing the risk of exposure for people travelling to an epidemic zone, which is mainly based on close contact with an infected person, the HCSP recommends the application of barrier measures for all travellers going to an area of active MPXV circulation. In addition, the HCSP recommends extending the national vaccination recommendations recently updated by the French health authority (Haute Autorité de Santé) to travellers most at risk and travelling to areas with active circulation of clade Ia and/or Ib MPXV, namely :

• carers and humanitarian professionals at risk ;
• people from the countries concerned, returning home to visit family or for other reasons, and exposed to risk (highly promiscuous stay, sharing bedding, etc.);
• immunocompromised persons.

The HCSP also invites stakeholders to define the procedures to be followed in the event of high-risk contact or the occurrence of symptoms compatible with Mpox during the stay or in the 21 days following the return from an epidemic zone.