Southern Africa remains a “safe and welcoming destination” for tourism amid the latest Mpox outbreak, according to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Business Council Tourism Alliance.
The Mpox (monkeypox) virus is reported to pose minimal risks to travellers, with activities such as safari and wildlife viewing deemed as safe. No travel restrictions for Southern African countries have been established.
Travellers are advised to practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing; avoid close contact with individuals who appear ill or have visible skin lesions; stay informed about health guidelines in their specific destination; and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms such as a fever or an unexplained skin rash.
SADC member states including Botswana, Angola and Mozambique have implemented surveillance, contract tracing and treatment protocols to manage potential cases.
A new strain of Mpox, Clade 1b, was found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in June.
This prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) this month, which is the second time in two years. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS).
Tshifhiwa Tshivengwa, Chairperson of the SADC Business Council Tourism Alliance, said: “We take these declarations seriously and commend the proactive approach of global and regional health authorities.
“However, it’s crucial to understand that the risk to travellers in Southern Africa remains low. Our member countries are implementing robust measures to manage and mitigate any potential spread of the virus.”
James Westrip, Founder and Director of Africa Collection, added: “The safety, security, and well-being of our clients remains our absolute priority. Our trusted safari partners throughout the region continue to exercise care and diligence concerning safety and hygiene at all times.
“There are currently no additional travel restrictions or advisories for travel to East or Southern Africa. Holidays and safaris are continuing safely throughout the region, with no increased risk of Mpox transmission around wildlife. The reality is that the risk of Mpox transmission in Southern and East African countries remains lower than in many traveller source markets such as the UK. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
