Brits travelling to a popular holiday destination must “take extra precautions” after a case of a highly infectious disease has been reported. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed a case of mpox in Turkey. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a contagious disease that can be transmitted through close physical contact with the blisters or scabs of an infected person.
In an update, Travel Health Pro said: “On 23 August 2025, the World Health Organization reported a case of clade Ib mpox in Turkey, detected on 7 August 2025. The case is reported to have had a travel history to the United Arab Emirates.” This strain of mpox has also been detected elsewhere across the world.
Worst hit has been the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa where there have been a total of 27,449 confirmed cases of both clade Ia and Ib. Earlier this year, it was reported that nine cases were detected in the UK – many of them found in people returning from Uganda.
Mpox symptoms typically appear between five and 21 days after infection. Initial symptoms can be severe, including high fever, painful headaches, muscle and back pain, swollen glands, chills, extreme fatigue, and joint pain.
A rash may develop anywhere on the body one to five days after these initial symptoms. The WHO warns that young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, particularly poorly managed HIV patients, are more at risk of severe complications from mpox, which can be fatal.
However, most people recover within four weeks. The NHS has provided advice on how to stay safe from this “rare” illness:
- Washing your hands with soap and water regularly or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser