CDC
CDC links mpox outbreak to cruise ships catering to MSM travelers
June 24, 2025

Between January 25 and April 18, 2024, CDC identified eight Clade II mpox cases among passengers and crew on four cruise ships—four crew members and four passengers. All cases occurred in gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men (MSM), with seven confirmed by lab testing. No hospitalizations or deaths were reported. Crew members were diagnosed onboard and isolated, while passengers were diagnosed after disembarkation. Notably, none of the crew had received the mpox vaccine, while three of the four passengers had completed a two-dose Jynneos vaccine series in 2022. All exposures involved male-to-male sexual contact, and some cases were linked to cruises marketed specifically to MSM.
CDC emphasized the importance of targeted public health measures in cruise settings, especially those catering to MSM. Recommendations include pre-travel vaccination for eligible passengers, onboard education about mpox symptoms and prevention, and improved vaccine access for crew. For cruises marketed to MSM, CDC advises providing mpox-prevention messaging before and during travel and considering onboard vaccine availability for timely postexposure prophylaxis.
Source:
Ortiz N, et al. (2025, June 19). CDC: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Clade II Mpox Infections Among Cruise Ship Passengers and Crew Members — United States, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7422a1.htm
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