Health specialists have issued a travel alert for two European destinations after new cases of an infectious illness were identified.
Travel Health Pro has reported that Mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) has been confirmed in both Sweden and Austria.
The organisation is urging anyone planning to visit either country to “take extra precautions” to reduce the risk of infection.
Authorities have recorded six cases of the clade Ib strain in Austria and seven in Sweden, and the virus can spread easily between people.
A warning on the Travel Health Pro website reads: “Since 1 Feb 2026 and as of 12 March 2026, six cases of clade Ib mpox have been reported in Austria. Since 1 Feb 2026 and as of 12 March 2026, seven cases of clade Ib mpox have been reported in Sweden.”
While Mpox is already highly infectious, clade Ib is thought to transmit more readily than other variants, including clade II.
Clade II was the strain linked to the UK outbreak in 2022.
The virus can pass from person to person through close physical contact, including contact with scabs or blister-like lesions.
Symptoms typically appear within around five to 21 days after exposure.
Common early signs can include a high temperature, muscle and back aches, headaches, joint pain, swollen glands, chills, and pronounced fatigue.
A rash may develop on the body roughly one to five days after symptoms first begin.
The World Health Organisation has previously cautioned that certain groups—such as young children, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems—may be more likely to experience serious illness.
In the most severe cases, Mpox can be fatal.
During 2024, several African countries reported outbreaks involving clade Ib, with further cases later detected in parts of Europe and North America.