China on Thursday confirmed an mpox outbreak traced to an individual with a travel history to the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The center said the outbreak was caused by a source “traced to a foreign individual with a travel history in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

“Four related cases were identified among close contacts, all of whom were infected after intimate contact,” it added, noting that there were no such infections among the general population.

The infected individuals are receiving medical treatment and remain under observation. “The outbreak has been effectively controlled,” said the center, advising people to avoid contact with wild or unidentified rodents as well as primates, such as monkeys and apes.

Mpox cases have been rising in Africa since early 2024, prompting urgent measures at the continental level.

Congo remains the worst-hit country, with the World Health Organization declaring mpox a public health emergency of global concern last August. More than 1,300 suspected mpox-related deaths have been reported in Africa. By Riyaz ul Khaliq,  Anadolu Agency