travel sickness for toddlers uk

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Motion sickness

Travel sickness.

Peer reviewed by Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP Last updated by Dr Pippa Vincent, MRCGP Last updated 9 Jul 2024

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In this series: Health advice for travel abroad Travelling to remote locations Ears and flying Jet lag Altitude sickness

Motion sickness (travel sickness) is common, especially in children. It is caused by repeated movements during travelling which send strong (sometimes confusing) signals to the balance and position sensors in the brain.

In this article :

What is motion sickness, what causes motion sickness, is motion sickness normal, triggers for motion sickness, motion sickness symptoms, how long does motion sickness last, how to stop motion sickness, natural treatments for motion sickness, motion sickness medicines, what can a doctor prescribe for motion sickness, what should i do if i'm actually sick, what is disembarkation syndrome.

Symptoms of nausea, dizziness or vomiting, caused by travel in a vehicle, boat or aeroplane, is known as motion sickness. It can also be caused by playing video games or walking or standing on moving platforms, for example a pontoon on a lake.

Motion sickness is a response to repeated movements, such as going over bumps or around in a circle, which send lots of messages to the brain.

If sitting inside a vehicle or on a boat, particularly when focusing on things that are also inside the vehicle (such as a book or screen), then the eyes are sending signals to the brain that the person's position is not changing, whilst the balance mechanisms are sending signals to the brain that the person's position is constantly changing.

On a fairground ride when being spun in different directions, the eyes, the muscles and the balance sensors are all sending different messages to the brain at once.

These conflicting messages cause people to experience motion sickness.

Continue reading below

Motion sickness is very common and is a normal response that anyone can have when experiencing real or perceived motion. Everyone can develop motion sickness if exposed to sufficiently intense motion but some people are very rarely affected while other people are more susceptible and have to deal with motion sickness very often.

Motion sickness is more common in children and in women. Most children grow out of having motion sickness. It is not known why some people develop motion sickness more than others.

Symptoms can develop in cars, trains, planes and boats and on amusement park rides, etc. Sometimes trying to read a book or a map whilst travelling can trigger motion sickness. Strong smells whilst travelling can also trigger motion sickness.

Playing computer games can sometimes cause motion sickness to occur.

There are various symptoms of motion sickness including:

Feeling sick (nausea and vomiting).

Sweating and cold sweats.

Increase in saliva.

Headaches .

Feeling cold and going pale.

Feeling weak.

Symptoms typically go when the journey is over; however, in some people they can last for a few hours, or even days, after the journey ends.

Some general tips to avoid motion sickness include the following:

Prepare for the journey

Don't eat a heavy meal before travelling. Light, carbohydrate-based food like cereal, pasta or toast an hour or two before travelling is best.

On long journeys, try breaking the journey to have some fresh air, drink some cold water and, if possible, take a short walk.

For more in-depth advice on travelling generally, see the separate leaflets called Health advice for travel abroad , Travelling to remote locations , Ears and flying (Aeroplane ear) , Jet lag and Altitude sickness .

Plan where to sit

Keep motion to a minimum. For example, try to sit in the front seat of a car, over the wing of a plane, or on deck in the middle of a boat.

On a boat, stay on deck and avoid sitting where the engines can be smelt.

Breathe fresh air

Breathe fresh air if possible. For example, open a car window.

Avoid strong smells, particularly petrol and diesel fumes. This may mean closing the window and turning on the air conditioning, or avoiding the engine area in a boat.

Use eyes and ears differently

Close your eyes (and keep them closed for the whole journey). This reduces 'positional' signals from your eyes to your brain and reduces the confusion.

Don't try to read.

Try listening to an audio book with your eyes closed. There is some evidence that distracting your brain with audio signals can reduce your sensitivity to the motion signals.

Try to sleep - this works mainly because your eyes are closed, but it is possible that your brain is able to ignore some motion signals when you are asleep.

Do not read or watch a film.

It is advisable not to watch moving objects such as waves or other cars. Don't look at things your brain expects to stay still, like a book inside the car. Instead, look ahead, a little above the horizon, at a fixed place.

If you are the driver you are less likely to feel motion sickness. This is probably because you are constantly focused on the road ahead and attuned to the movements that you expect the vehicle to make. If you are not the driver, then sitting in the front and watching what the driver is watching can be helpful.

Treat your tummy gently

Avoid heavy meals and do not drink alcohol before and during travelling. It may also be worth avoiding spicy or fatty food.

Try to 'tame your tummy' with sips of a cold water or a sweet, fizzy drink. Cola or ginger ale are recommended.

Try alternative treatments

Sea-Bands® are acupressure bands that can be worn on the wrists to put pressure on acupressure points that Chinese medicine suggests affects motion sickness. Some people find that they are effective.

Homeopathic medicines seem to help some people, and will not cause drowsiness.

All the techniques above which aim to prevent motion sickness will also help reduce it once it has begun. Other techniques, which are useful on their own to treat motion sickness but can also be used with medicines if required, are:

Breathe deeply and slowly and, while focusing on breathing, listening to music. This has been proved to be effective in clinical trials.

Ginger can improve motion sickness in some people (as a biscuit or sweet, or in a drink).

There are several motion sickness medicines available which can reduce, or prevent, symptoms of motion sickness. They can be bought from pharmacies. They work by interfering with the nerve signals described above.

Medicines are best taken before the journey. They may still help even if taken after symptoms have begun, although medicines are absorbed less well once nausea has started. Therefore, skin patches or medications absorbed through the gums are more effective after nausea has already developed.

Hyoscine is usually the most effective medicine for motion sickness . It is also known as scopolamine. It works by preventing the confusing nerve messages going to the brain.

There are several brands of medicines which contain hyoscine - they also come in a soluble form for children. A dose should be taken 30-60 minutes before a journey; the effect can last up to 72 hours.

Hyoscine also comes as a patch for people aged 10 years or over. (This is only available on prescription - see below.) Side-effects of hyoscine include dry mouth , drowsiness and blurred vision.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines can also be useful , although they are not quite as effective as hyoscine. However, they usually cause fewer side-effects.

Several types of antihistamine are sold for motion sickness. All can cause drowsiness, although some are more prone to cause it than others; for example, promethazine , which may be of use for young children on long journeys, particularly tends to cause drowsiness. Older children or adults may prefer one that is less likely to cause drowsiness - for example, cinnarizine or cyclizine.

Remember, children who have taken medicines which cause drowsiness can sometimes be irritable when the medicines wear off.

See the separate article called How to manage motion sickness .

Side-effects of motion sickness medicines

Some medicines used for motion sickness may cause drowsiness. Some people are extremely sensitive to this and may find that they are so drowsy that they can't function properly at all.

For others the effects may be milder but can still impair reactions and alertness. It is therefore advisable not to drive and not to operate heavy machinery after taking these. In addition, some medicines may interfere with alcohol or other medication; the pharmacist can advise you about this.

There are a number of anti-sickness medicines which can only be prescribed. Not all of them always work well for motion sickness, and finding something that works may be a case of trial and error. They are not usually better than the over-the-counter options. In some areas of the UK, they are not recommended for prescribing.

All of them work best taken up to an hour before the journey, and work less well if used when already feeling sick. See also the separate leaflet called Nausea medicine for more detailed information about these medicines .

Hyoscine patch

Hyoscine, or scopolamine, patches are suitable for adults and for children over 10 years old. The medicine is absorbed through the skin, although this method of medicine delivery is slow so the patch works best if applied well before your journey. The patch needs to be stuck onto the skin behind the ear 5-6 hours before travelling (often this will mean late on the previous night) and removed at the end of the journey. There is no evidence that this works better than any other medications for motion sickness.

Prochlorperazine

Prochlorperazine is a prescription-only medicine which works by changing the actions of the chemicals that control the tendency to be sick (vomit) in the brain.

One form of prochlorperazine is Buccastem®, which is absorbed through your gums and does not need to be swallowed. Buccastem® tastes rather bitter but it can be effective for sickness when already feeling sick as it doesn't have to be absorbed by the stomach.

Metoclopramide

Metoclopramide is a tablet used to speed up the emptying of your tummy. Slow emptying of the tummy is something that happens when you develop nausea and vomiting, so metoclopramide can help prevent this.

It prevents nausea and vomiting quite effectively in some people. It can have unpleasant side-effects, particularly in children (in whom it is not recommended).

Metoclopramide is often helpful for those who tend to have gastric reflux, those who have slow tummy emptying because of previous surgery, and those who have type 1 diabetes.

Ondansetron

Ondansetron is a powerful antisickness medicine which is most commonly used for sickness caused by chemotherapy, and occasionally used for morning sickness in pregnancy. It is not usually effective for motion sickness. This, and its relatively high cost, means that it is not prescribed for motion sickness alone. However, for those undergoing chemotherapy, and for those who have morning sickness aggravated by travel, ondansetron may be helpful.

Vomiting may relieve the symptoms of motion sickness a little, although not always for very long. After being sick:

Try a cool flannel on your forehead, try to get some fresh air on your face and do your best to find a way to rinse your mouth to get rid of the taste.

Don't drink anything for ten to twenty minutes (or it may come straight back), although (very) tiny sips of very cold water, coke or ginger ale may help.

After this, go back to taking all the prevention measures above.

Once you reach your destination you may continue to feel unwell. Sleep if you can, sip cold iced water, and - when you feel ready - try some small carbohydrate snacks. Avoid watching TV (more moving objects to watch!) until you feel a little better.

The sensation, also called 'mal de debarquement' (French for sickness on disembarking), refers to the sensation that some people experience after travel on a boat, train or plane, when they continue to feel for some time as though the ground is rocking beneath their feet.

It is probably caused by the overstimulation of the balance organs during the journey. It usually lasts only an hour or two, but in some people it can last for several days, particularly after a long sea journey. It does not usually require any treatment.

Persistent mal de debarquement syndrome is an uncommon condition in which these symptoms may persist for months or years.

Dr Mary Lowth is an author or the original author of this leaflet.

Further reading and references

• Spinks A, Wasiak J ; Scopolamine (hyoscine) for preventing and treating motion sickness. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Jun 15;(6):CD002851.
• Lackner JR ; Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting. Exp Brain Res. 2014 Aug;232(8):2493-510. doi: 10.1007/s00221-014-4008-8. Epub 2014 Jun 25.
• Leung AK, Hon KL ; Motion sickness: an overview. Drugs Context. 2019 Dec 13;8:2019-9-4. doi: 10.7573/dic.2019-9-4. eCollection 2019.
• Van Ombergen A, Van Rompaey V, Maes LK, et al ; Mal de debarquement syndrome: a systematic review. J Neurol. 2016 May;263(5):843-854. doi: 10.1007/s00415-015-7962-6. Epub 2015 Nov 11.
• Takov V, Tadi P ; Motion Sickness.
• J Bentley, L Fitzsimmons ; Motion Sickness: Causes, Prevention and Management. Pharmaceutical Journal, March 2023
• Karrim N, Byrne R, Magula N, et al ; Antihistamines for motion sickness. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Oct 17;10(10):CD012715. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012715.pub2.

Article history

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

Next review due: 8 Jul 2027

9 jul 2024 | latest version.

Last updated by

Dr Pippa Vincent, MRCGP

Peer reviewed by

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Why is my toddler travel sick?

• Time your journey carefully. Travel sickness is less likely during sleep as your child’s brain is not being stimulated by what she sees around her. Once the journey has actually started and your child begins to feel ill, she may be less likely to go to sleep.
• If possible, try putting your child to bed before you start your journey and transfer your sleepy toddler into her car seat without (hopefully) waking her up. Or try coinciding your journey with nap or sleep time. Some toddlers fall asleep the minute they hit the road!
• Try not to give your toddler a full meal just before travelling. If she vomits, give her small sips of water. Dry crackers can be useful for older toddlers.
• Keep the car cool and well-ventilated and don’t overdress your child in her car seat.
• Try not to distract your toddler with toys or books, as these can make travel sickness symptoms worse. If your toddler is older, encourage her to focus forwards on long-distance objects like lorries, tractors or trees by playing “I spy…” games.
• Put a sun-shade on the window on your child’s side of the car to help her look forward and to protect her from the heat of the sun.
• Avoid any strong smells in the car. Don’t wear strong perfume or use overpowering air-fresheners.
• Don't smoke in the car with your toddler, even with the windows open. Not only would this expose him to the dangerous chemicals in cigarettes, it could also make travel sickness worse. In fact, it's illegal to smoke in a car with anyone under 18 present.
• Make sure your child’s head is well-supported in her car seat to prevent her from moving her head too much.
• Toddlers of all ages respond to music. If it is something she’s familiar with, it’s more likely to distract her from feeling ill. Try putting on a well-loved CD of nursery rhymes or sing a few favourites.
• If you think your toddler is going to be sick, take a couple of towels with you on your journey. Put one over your toddler and another over the car seat before you strap her in. Have a spare set of clothing packed just in case and bring some plastic bags for soggy towels and clothes, as well as some baby wipes to freshen up.
• Anti-sickness medications containing hyoscine can be purchased over the counter from a pharmacist, for children who are two and over. Research studies have shown these to be very effective. Other remedies such as ginger preparations and acupressure bands can be popular. However these have not been medically proven to work.
• Resist the temptation to stop travelling, as research among adults in America has shown that the symptoms do reduce after frequent exposure to travelling. The majority of children do grow out of travel sickness and as your child gets older she can tell you when she begins to feel queasy. So until then, stay calm, be well prepared for each journey and remember that travelling with your toddler gives her a whole wealth of experiences and opportunities, which she’ll remember for the rest of her life.

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How To Help Toddlers With Car Sickness

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Looking for a cure to toddlers with car sickness ? We feel your pain!

And we’ve cleaned the seats to prove it… 🤢

Motion sickness symptoms vary from person to person, but when your child is unable to communicate their symptoms, dealing with it can become a nightmare. Whether your planned car trip takes twenty minutes or four hours, no parent wants their toddler to start feeling ill on the journey. 

A few roadblocks commonly stand between parents and treating their toddlers with carsickness; in this guide, we’ll explore how to recognise the symptoms, treat, and prevent motion sickness. 

Non-prescription medication

How long does motion sickness last in toddlers, final thoughts, common causes of motion sickness.

When you’re sitting in a car, your body is stationary. You’re not doing any of the work to move, but your eyes are receiving entirely different signals — according to your eyes and inner ear, you’re moving quickly. Motion sickness occurs because of the confusion that happens in your brain and the mixed signals it is trying to interpret. 

The most important body part involved in all of this is the inner ear. When your inner ear is trying to understand how to balance you, the movement you are experiencing without actually moving causes the wires to get crossed in your brain and can lead to that queasy feeling. 

What Are The Signs of Toddlers With Car Sickness?

If you’ve taken your young child on a plane ride or a long car journey , they might have experienced motion sickness.

Common symptoms include:

• Upset stomach and queasiness

Your toddler might not be able to explain how they are feeling. They’re likely to show it by crying, becoming restless, and they might turn pale. They could also start to yawn if they’re feeling fatigued.

And, of course, stay alert for any vomiting in the back seat.

How to Prevent Car Sickness in Toddlers

If your toddler suffers from motion sickness during car trips, be prepared by following these top tips.

Be aware of what they eat

If your child ever vomits or has an upset stomach when travelling, take care with what you feed them before and during the journey.

A small, light snack such as plain crackers and a sip of water is perfect. Avoid anything too heavy or greasy.

We’ve all been tempted to stuff our toddlers with sweet treats to keep them amused on a long journey, but all that sugar can easily trigger a vomiting episode if they’re suddenly accosted with motion sicknesses.

Check the temperature & provide air ventilation

One of the easiest ways to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness is to provide fresh air. Open the windows or use the air blowers in the car as soon as your toddler starts to display signs of motion sickness.

Alternatively, use a cool cloth to bring their temperature down if they’re feeling hot. Dress your child for the weather too — layers of light clothing are best for travelling.

Reduce sensory input

Looking at a fixed point outside the vehicle can often help. Encourage your youngster to look out of the window rather than playing with toys or looking at a book.

It’s quite common for children to start to feel sick when they are watching a video or reading during travel, and the symptoms are often eased when they stop.

Seat placement

Related to the above, if possible, it’s a good idea to let travel sick toddlers sit in the middle seat, so they have a clear view out of the window ahead.

If your toddler is sitting in a rear-facing seat, it might be time to consider turning their seat around if they’re badly afflicted with car sickness. Facing against the direction of travel can sometimes make motion sickness symptoms worse.

Remember, toddlers should always travel in the back of the car for safety.

Offer distractions

If your child starts feeling sick, distracting them by offering to play games like I-Spy or playing music might be enough to help. It will take their mind off their feelings of queasiness (and make the journey more fun, too!).

Stop regularly

Break up a long car trip with frequent breaks to allow your toddler the chance to get some fresh air and stretch their legs. This will help reduce boredom too — a win-win!

Travel bands

Acupressure bands are popular among many parents, although it’s important to note that they have not been proven to work. However, there’s no harm in trying them if you have a youngster who is frequently affected by motion sickness. Sometimes the placebo effect is enough to take the edge off!

Hyoscine is available to toddlers aged 2 years and above, and is thought to be highly effective. Consult with your GP or pharmacist if you are unsure about the suitability of certain medications.

It’s worth trying the above options first, and consider medication as a last resort.

Toddler Car Sickness FAQs

What can you give a 2-year-old for motion sickness.

There are medications suitable for 2-year-olds suffering from travel sickness – hyoscine and dramamine are popular medicated options, whereas acupressure bands and ginger are great non-medicinal alternatives to try.

What can I give my 1-year-old for car sickness?

There aren’t any medications suitable for this age group, but plenty of the suggestions above can help. Try to avoid giving your baby a big feed shortly before car or plane rides. Instead, give them a few sips to prevent dehydration and plan bigger feeds for earlier or later in the day.

Is it normal for toddlers to get car sick?

It’s more common for slightly older children to suffer from travel sickness — it’s especially common in those aged 6-12. However, it can and does affect toddlers and even babies.

Thankfully, motion sickness symptoms ease off quickly once the journey has ended. Expect your child to be back to their usual happy self within a couple of hours.

Motion sickness can be stressful for both parents and toddlers and can spoil a holiday before you even arrive.

Thankfully, it’s quite easy to prevent with or without medication. Something as simple as opening the windows and taking away toys and games can often be enough to ease the symptoms of car sickness and ensure the family has an enjoyable journey!

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From pool safety to sun protection, these simple steps will help your children stay safe and healthy on holiday.

Pool safety

Children need to be watched constantly. Don’t depend on a lifeguard, who may not be trained to UK standards.

What to pack -  Swimming aids, such as armbands, are great for playing in the water but can easily slip off. Therefore, you still need to keep an eye on your child.

• Actively supervise all young children near water.
• Choose pools that are fenced with locking gates.
• Even if a pool has a lifeguard, make sure you know where your children are and what they're doing in the water.
• Let children take swimming classes while on holiday. They're a great way of gaining water confidence and learning essential water safety skills.

Take the RoSPA Water Wise quiz .

Sun protection

Studies have found that sunburn during childhood can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life.

What to pack - Use at least a factor 15 sunscreen and choose a "broad-spectrum" brand that has a four- or five-star rating. Apply it to areas that cannot be protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of the hands. Choose sunscreens that are formulated for children and babies' skin.

• Apply sunscreen before children go outdoors.
• Sunscreen can easily be washed, rubbed or sweated off, so reapply it often throughout the day.
• Keep babies in complete shade, such as under trees, umbrellas, canopies or indoors.
• Protect a baby’s skin with loose-fitting clothes and a wide-brimmed hat that shades their face and neck.
• Make sure children drink regularly.

Travel sickness

Children often get motion sickness more than adults. Early symptoms of motion sickness include hot flushes, dribbling and paleness.

What to pack - Several medicines are available to reduce or prevent symptoms of motion sickness. You can buy them from pharmacies or get them on prescription. Anti-sickness remedies containing hyoscine are the most effective medicines for motion sickness. There are several brands of medicines containing hyoscine and they come as a soluble form for children.

• Avoid staring at moving objects, such as waves or other cars. Instead, look ahead a little above the horizon at a fixed place.
• Keep motion to a minimum. For example, sit over the wing of a plane or on deck in the middle of a boat.
• Avoid heavy meals before and during travelling. It may be a good idea to avoid spicy or fatty food.
• On long journeys, it may help to have a break and get some fresh air, drink some cold water and take a short walk.
• Ginger can improve motion sickness in some people. It can be taken in ginger biscuits, ginger tea or as tablets before a journey.

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What to do if your child suffers from travel sickness

Travel sickness can be a debilitating condition to suffer from and is actually more common in children aged 3 to 12 years old . Trying to help a small child when they are feeling ill in the car can seem overwhelming, especially if you often have to do longer journeys with me. Don’t worry, we have some great tips and insights into things that really work when your toddler has motion sickness.

What is travel sickness?

A lot of you may already know the main symptoms of travel sickness for your child, however, it can never hurt to have another look or it may be that your child has one of the more rare symptoms that you hadn’t realised. Every child is different so they may not experience all the symptoms, and the severity of symptoms may be different each time.

Travel sickness is more accurately called motion sickness as it is a direct result of being in motion- usually occurring when you are travelling in cars, trains, buses, boats etc.

• Vomiting and nausea
• Cold sweats
• Increased saliva
• Drowsiness and extreme tiredness
• Rapid breathing

Why does travel sickness occur?

Motion sickness occurs when there is a disparity between what your eyes can see and what your inner ears (that help with balance) can sense. So if you’re in car then your eyes are saying that you’re moving at a high speed but your inner ear is sensing that you are sat down which results in the confusion. Some people are clearly more susceptible to the effects of this disparity and it results in some of the symptoms above.

How can I stop my child from getting travel sick?

Treating motion sickness as soon as you can (once you’ve ruled out any other causes for vomiting such as a tummy bug) is key as you don’t want your child to always associate being in the car with feeling really ill as they will start to dread going on car journeys making everyone’s life miserable.

One of the simplest and best tips is to make sure they have an uninterrupted view out of the front window. The easiest way to do this is having them either in the passenger seat or the middle of the back seat.

Try to remove anything that may be doing that involves looking at screens for a prolonged period of time, especially anything that involves reading. So no tablet, Kindle or book. A short DVD may still be OK but it’s probably best to try and go completely cold turkey with this as reading can very quickly bring on nausea. Replace this with music or an audio book to listen to- either using headphones or just in the car so that they don’t get bored.

Make sure you have a bit of air circulating around the car as hot, stuffy conditions can make everything feel a lot worse. Crack the window nearest to them a bit and encourage them to take big, deep breaths. Singing can help with the breathing and could distract them as well.

If the travel sickness is happening on a boat or plane advance book a central seat or cabin as this is were the least rocking or turbulence will be felt.

If you are planning a long journey, think about what food you give your child before you leave as a heavy or greasy meal can make the symptoms worse.

Be prepared for travel sickness, a good tip I read was to use plastic sealable bags (like ziploc foodbags) as sickbags so that the smell (along with the vomit….) can be contained for the rest of the journey. Make sure you have a good supply!

Give ginger a go- there is some evidence to suggest that taking ginger can lessen nausea and I have certainly heard anecdotal evidence of this working for other types of nausea such as period pain.

Acupressure bands are also suggested and I can remember friends wearing these when we were on school trips to help stop travel sickness.

Update: Extra tip!

Recommended in the comments is an app called Nevasic which I’d never come across so I’ve taken a look. It is audio that you play when starting to feel the effects of nausea and has been empirically verified for pregnancy sickness as well as motion sickness.

Interestingly, the clinical study carried out by Imperial College School of Medicine which found a significant reduction in nausea when using the app, also investigated controlling breathing. This was also found to be effective in reducing the feelings of sickness. Less useful for younger kids but could be worth trying for older kids.

If none of these remedies seems to be working or symptoms are severe and ongoing even on short car journeys then a trip to your GP or local pharmacist is in order. They can recommend or prescribe medicine designed specifically to target the symptoms of travel sickness.

Kids and travel sickness: final thoughts

I really hope this post has thrown up (oops, pun not intended!) some new tips and ideas to try with your children to stop the travel sickness. If you have any tried and tested tips of your own or just want to share your story then leave a comment below.

Reader Interactions

19th December 2017 at 9:20 am

Try the nevasic app, drug free, developed for travel sickness and proven safe and to work in a clinical trial run by Westminster College of Medicine London.

19th December 2017 at 1:09 pm

Thanks for the recommendation Dave, will take a look and add it to the tips.

28th January 2018 at 3:32 pm

Some great tips for travelling with travel sickness, thanks for linking up to #fortheloveofBLOG

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The best travel sickness cures for children

Whether it’s in a car, or on a ship, plane or train, it’s common for toddlers and children to feel queasy when they travel.

If your little one is affected by car or motion sickness, and you don't want to give them medication, stop the symptoms in their tracks with these six tried-and-tested methods.

Happy travelling!

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Best remedies for travel sickness, tried and tested 2024

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It’s human nature to fantasise about upcoming holidays on grey days in the office. 

Yet if a destination requires hours of travel to reach, travel sickness sufferers face a conundrum. Endure gut-wrenching nausea or ditch the hols altogether? 

If you are prepared to combat motion sickness, the answer is neither. According to the Centers for Disease and Control : “Motion sickness happens when the movement you see is different from what your inner ear senses. This can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.” 

Travel sickness can occur on any mode of transport: in the car on a train, plane or boat. Unless you plan to swim to your sun-soaked vacay destination, it’s best to be prepared. 

To avoid experiencing car sickness before your journey, there are some precautionary steps to take.

How to minimise travel sickness

• Sit in the front of a car or bus
• Choose a window seat on flights and trains
• Lying down, shutting your eyes, sleeping, or looking at the horizon
• Staying hydrated and limiting alcoholic and caffeinated beverages
• Eating small amounts of food frequently
• Avoid smoking
• Distract yourself by listening to music but avoid screen time
• Sucking on flavoured lozenges such as ginger candy.

For those struggling with severe travel sickness, speak to a healthcare professional about prescription solutions. For milder but no less distressing sickness, we consulted two medical experts.

Dr Reval Sukkhu and nurse Helen Chetwynd from HCA Healthcare UK suggest three key treatments for travel sickness: “Firstly, travel bands . While their efficacy is unclear, the theory is based on something akin to acupuncture. Travel bands apply pressure to certain point on the wrist. Despite lack of empirical evidence, some people find them helpful. They are suitable for people over the age of 12."

"Secondly, antihistamines. There are oral tablets available over the counter in the UK such as Cinnarizine (brand name, Sturgeron) or Promethazine Teoclate. Individuals should speak to a pharmacist to see what is most suitable for them, as this type of medication can make you drowsy."

"Finally, Hyoscine Hydrobromide. It is thought to work by affecting the inner ear and neurological system to control vomiting. It is available in the form of tablets such as Kwells, Joy-Rides and Travel Calm or patches.”

Discover the best anti-sickness remedies to take before and during travel and jet off with peace of mind this summer. 

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Kwells 300 Microgram Tablets - 12 tablets

Stop feelings of sickness quickly by popping a Kwells. The tablets feature sickness-subsiding Hyoscine Hydrobromide which restore a sense of stability. The melt-in-your-mouth tablets are suitable for adults and children aged 10 years and over.

Sea-Band’s wristbands feature a plastic stud in each band that exerts pressure onto the wrist. This helps alleviate sickness during long and short periods of travel. Slip yours on and let the single piece work its magic. 

Stugeron - 15 Tablets

If your kids struggle with travel sickness, Sturgeron’s tablets could be a winning choice. The pills can be given to those over the age of five, making them relatively a child-friendly option. Formed from Cinnarizine, the tablets are easy to take and affordable.

Aesop Ginger Flight Therapy

Aesop’s Ginger Flight Therapy is a travel-sized roll-on enhanced with ginger root, lavender and geranium oils. Designed for your pulse points, the portable item can be applied to the temples, wrists, neck and stomach when stress or nausea arises.

Puressentiel SOS Travel Sickness Roller with 7 Essential Oils 5ml

A highly useful product that acts as a balancer and harmoniser of the nervous system, the Puressentiel SOS Travel Sickness Roller features seven stimulating essential oils to help ease and prevent travel sickness. Inhale soothing notes of the roller and relax without a hint of nausea.

Bach Rescue Remedy

Rescue Remedy is a classic. Pop four drops onto your tongue when the nerves start to set in and let the comforting flower essences work their magic. There’s no need for additional water or faff, so you can drift off with total ease.

Sea-Band Nausea Relief Ginger Capsules for Travel Sickness Relief

Opt for a natural remedy and add Sea-Band’s nausea relief to your pre-holiday shopping basket. The capsules are a non-drowsy remedy for the clinically proven prevention and relief of travel and motion sickness. Each capsule contains 250mg of ginger sourced from natural ginger root that helps support digestive health and soothes the stomach.

MQ Motion Sickness Patch for Car and Boat Rides

Apply this 100 per cent natural patch behind your earlobe and let it do all the work for you. Attach 10 minutes before your time of travel and enjoy long-lasting effects for one to three days. Unsuitable for pregnant women. 

Teapigs Sweet Ginger Tea Made With Whole Herbs

Sweet-toothed tea sippers will adore Teapigs' ginger remedy. A fiery blend of anti-nausea ginger, liquorice roots and cinnamon ease digestion, while offering a gentle pick-me-up during the day.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) with MagSafe Charging Case 2022

The Apple AirPods Pros are a game changer. With complete noise-cancelling effects, a smooth, sleek design and adaptive transparency to tune in and out of background noise, these earbuds are a worthwhile investment.

Adjust the volume via the high-tech touch controls and dive right into your stress-free, in-flight entertainment, knowing the product’s six hour battery will have you covered through your short haul flight and beyond. To avoid sickness, keep screen time limited during use.

Who can and cannot take hyoscine hydrobromide - Brand names: Kwells, Joy-Rides, Kwells Kids, Travel Calm, Scopoderm

Who can take hyoscine hydrobromide.

Hyoscine hydrobromide travel sickness tablets can be taken by most adults and children from the age of 3 years.

Patches for travel sickness can be used by most adults and children from the age of 10 years.

Who may not be able to take hyoscine hydrobromide

Hyoscine hydrobromide is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you:

• have ever had an allergic reaction to hyoscine hydrobromide or any other medicine
• have an eye problem called primary angle closure glaucoma
• have difficulty peeing or a bowel blockage
• have myasthenia gravis , a condition that causes muscle weakness
• have heart problems, including a very fast heart rate
• have thyroid, kidney or liver problems
• have epilepsy (seizures)
• have digestive problems, such as acid reflux or severe constipation
• have ulcerative colitis
• have a high temperature
• are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as hyoscine hydrobromide is not recommended in pregnancy

Page last reviewed: 5 October 2022 Next review due: 5 October 2025

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Kwells Travel Health Care

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Kwells medicines are indicated to prevent travel sickness. Kwells can be used by both kids (above 4 years) and adults.

Kwells is used to prevent all types of Travel Sickness (car, coach, plane, train and ship) and is suitable for use in adults and children over the age of 4 years, (dose adjustments are needed for children between 4-12 yrs of age).

  Kwells travel sickness prevention contains the active ingredient Hyoscine Hydrobromide (0.3mg) and does not contain caffeine (a stimulant) or Dimenhydrinate (may cause drowsiness), which are found in other travel sickness treatments.

  Kwells is the No.1 selling treatment for travel sickness prevention.

  Kwells should be taken at least 30 minutes before commencing your journey as travel sickness is more easily prevented than treated - once vomiting occurs it is almost impossible for oral medication to be absorbed into the body.   

FAQ’s Q: Are there preservatives in Kwells? A: There are no preservatives present in Kwells.   Q: What active ingredients are in Kwells? A: The active ingredient is Hyoscine hydrobromide. Kwells does not contain caffeine or dimenhydrinate.   Q: I get nervous prior to flying and feel airsick when the plane is flying. What can I do? A: The best solution is to take travel sickness prevention 30 minutes prior to flying and when checking ask to be seated over a wing. When on the plane also open the air vent to allow fresh air to flow over your face.  

Q: When traveling by car the kids frequently become air sick. What can I do? A: The best solution is to treat them with travel sickness prevention 30 mins prior to the journey. Kwells can be used for children 4 years and up (refer to pack for dosage instructions). In addition ensure they have eaten 2-3 hours before travelling and drink water during the journey.  When driving they should be safely elevated to allow them to see where they are going.

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Travel Sickness

Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets are used for the fast and effective prevention and control of travel sickness.

Travel sickness happens when the brain receives mixed messages. Visual messages from the eyes inform the brain that the immediate surroundings are stationary, but a delicate balancing organ in the ear tells the brain that you are moving. This conflicting information triggers the nausea we associate with travel sickness.

More about this product

Hyoscine Hydrobromide 150mcg | Prevention of travel sickness | 12 tablets | For ages 4+

The active substance in Kwells Kids tablets is hyoscine hydrobromide. Hyoscine hydrobromide temporarily reduces the effect of movement on the balance organs of the inner ear and the nerves responsible for nausea.

Because Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets melt in the mouth, absorption into the bloodstream is very rapid and they can be taken up to 20–30 minutes before travelling or at the onset of sickness.

Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets. For the prevention of travel sickness. Contains Hyoscine Hydrobromide 150mcg. Always read the label.  

Directions for use

If Hyoscine hydrobromide has been prescribed to your child by their doctor, follow any instructions he/she may have given you.

If you have purchased Kwells tablets, follow these directions closely:

The tablets can be sucked, chewed or swallowed. They have a scoreline so they can be halved if necessary. The tablets can be taken up to 30 minutes before travelling to prevent travel sickness or at the onset of nausea.

Children 4 to 10 years:  Give your child half or one tablet every 6 hours, as required. Do not give your child this medicine more than 3 times in 24 hours.

Children over 10 years: Give your child one or two tablets every 6 hours, as required. Do not give your child this medicine more than 3 times in 24 hours.

Kwells Kids tablets should not be given to children under 4 years of age.

Click here for more information

Frequently Asked Questions

Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets are used for the fast and effective prevention and control of travel sickness. Travel sickness happens when the brain receives mixed messages. Visual messages from the eyes inform the brain that the immediate surroundings are stationary but a delicate balancing organ in the ear tells the brain that you are moving. This conflicting information triggers the nausea we associate with travel sickness.

Because Kwells Kids tablets melt in the mouth, absorption into the bloodstream is very rapid and cab be taken up to 20-30 minutes before travelling or at the onset of sickness.

Hyoscine hydrobromide is taken to prevent and control travel sickness.

DO NOT give Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets to your child if he or she :

Is allergic (hypersensitive) to hyoscine hydrobromide or any of the other ingredients in the tablets which are: Mannitol (E421), potato starch, gelatine powder, aluminium stearate, saccharin sodium (E954) and ferric oxide (E172).

Has any of the following conditions:

• Blockage of the intestines (Paralytic ileus)
• Narrowing of the stomach outlet (Pyloric stenosis)
• Myasthenia gravis
• Enlarged prostate gland

You should see your doctor if he or she:

• Is under medical care, especially for heart, metabolic, gastrointestinal, liver or kidney conditions.
• Has previously had a sudden painful inability to pass urine.
• Has ulcerative colitis.
• Has diarrhoea or fever.
• Has Down’s Syndrome.
• Suffers from seizures or fits.

Additional precautions:

This product should only be given to children over 4 years old. Since it may cause drowsiness, children taking this medicine, should not be left unattended.

1 https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/hyoscine-hydrobromide/

If Kwells Kids tablets has been prescribed for your child by a doctor, follow any instructions he/she may have given you. If purchased this product without prescription, follow these directions closely:

Children over 10 years:  Give your child one or two tablets every 6 hours, as required. Do not give your child this medicine more than 3 times in 24 hours.

Children 4 to 10 years:  Give your child half or one tablet every 6 hours as required. Do not give your child this medicine more than 3 times in 24 hours. Kwells Kids tablets should not be given to children under 4 years of age.

Like all medicines, Kwells Kids tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Some people have experienced blurred vision, dilated pupils, dry mouth, drowsiness and dizziness. Your child may also experience an increased body temperature due to decreased sweating.

Less frequently, there have been reports of restlessness, hallucinations and confusion.

If you child is epileptic, he or she might suffer from increased seizure frequency.

As with all medicines, some people may be allergic to the tablets. If your child is allergic,he or she might experience difficulty in breathing, coughing, wheezing or symptoms such as rash, itching and swelling.

If your child experiences any of these effects or react badly to the tablets in any other way, tell your doctor immediately.

Symptoms of overdose may include: fast or irregular heart-beat, difficulty passing water, bllurred vision or dislike of bright light. Hallucinations may occur. If you have any of these symptoms or have taken more than the recommended dose, tell your doctor or contact your nearest Accident and Emergency Department immediately.

If you or your child get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App store.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if your child is taking or has recently taken any other medicines including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Do not  give Kwells Kids tablets to your child if he or she is taking any of the following medicines, unless advised by your doctor:

• Amantadine (an antiviral)
• Antihistamines
• Antipsychotics
• Antidepressants
• Linezolid (an antibiotic)
• Domperidone and metoclopramide (for nausea and vomiting)
• Sublingual nitrates (for angina)

Other Kwells Products

Kwells 300 microgram tablets are used for the fast and effective prevention and control of travel sickness. Travel sickness happens when the brain receives mixed messages. Visual messages from the eyes inform the brain that the immediate surroundings are stationary, but a delicate balancing organ in the ear tells the brain that you are moving. This conflicting information triggers the nausea we associate with travel sickness.

Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets. For the prevention of travel sickness, suitable for adults and children aged 10+. Contains Hyoscine Hydrobromide 150 microgram. Always read the label

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How does mpox spread and what is the risk to the rest of the world?

Africa's top health body has declared a public health emergency after more than 15,600 cases and 537 deaths were reported on the continent this year.

Monday 19 August 2024 14:55, UK

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Mpox has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), with a new strain spreading across Africa at an alarming rate.

Officials announced last Wednesday that an outbreak of the strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was now a "public health emergency of international concern".

It is the second time in three years that the WHO has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency.

It comes as the number of mpox cases reported so far this year has already exceeded last year's total, with more than 17,000 cases and 571 deaths according to the WHO.

But what is mpox, what are the symptoms, how is it treated, and what's being done about the outbreak?

The viral disease has occurred mostly in central and western Africa.

The most recent strain, first spotted in the DRC, has spread to neighbouring countries, including some that have never reported mpox cases before.

It was first identified in laboratory monkeys, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It used to be known as monkeypox, but was renamed in 2022 by the WHO after receiving complaints that the original name was "racist and stigmatising".

Most cases are mild, but it can be deadly.

The disease spreads through close contact with infected people, including via sex and other skin-to-skin contact, with the latest outbreak in the continent beginning with the spread of an endemic strain known as Clade 1.

The new variant that has emerged, known as Clade 1b, appears to spread more easily through close contact, particularly among children.

Jean Claude Udahemuka, from the University of Rwanda, said last month that Clade 1b is "undoubtedly the most dangerous so far of all the known strains of mpox".

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last two to four weeks.

The rashes can be located anywhere on the body and some people may only have one, while others can have hundreds or more.

These are other symptoms listed by the CDC:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Muscle aches and backache
• Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

The WHO says people may start to feel unwell before they get a rash or skin lesions, while for others the skin symptoms can be the first or only sign.

People with more severe mpox can suffer with the following symptoms, according to the WHO:

• More widespread lesions - especially in the mouth, eyes, and genitals
• Severe bacterial infections
• Lung infections
• Mpox affecting the brain (encephalitis)
• Heart (myocarditis)
• Lungs (pneumonia)
• Eye problems

New-born babies, children, people who are pregnant and people with underlying immune deficiencies may be at higher risk of more serious mpox disease and death, the WHO adds.

How is it treated?

Currently, there is no treatment approved specifically for mpox infections, according to the CDC.

It says that for most patients with mpox who have intact immune systems and don't have a skin disease, supportive care and pain control will help them recover without medical treatment.

People with severe mpox may require hospital treatment, supportive care and antiviral medicines to reduce the severity of lesions and shorten the time to recovery, the WHO says.

Many years of research on treatments for smallpox have led to the development of products that may also be useful for treating mpox, it adds.

It says an antiviral developed to treat smallpox called tecovirimat was approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of mpox under exceptional circumstances in 2022. It also said its use for mpox has been limited so far.

However, a two-dose vaccine has been developed to protect against the virus, which is widely available in Western countries but not in Africa.

Scientists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) say they need more than 10 million vaccine doses but only 200,000 are available.

How did things get worse in Africa?

Mpox has been endemic in parts of Africa for decades after it was first detected in humans in DR Congo in 1970.

But the Clade 1b strain first emerged in September among sex workers in the DRC mining town of Kamituga, about 170 miles (273km) from the border with Rwanda .

Africa CDC has said 96% of all cases and deaths were in the DRC, but it has also spread to neighbouring countries, with 18 nations reporting cases of mpox.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

'It's an emergency for the entire globe'

The WHO declared an emergency as it thinks the strain is "potentially the outbreak that can become a pandemic," according to Dr Jean Kaseya, the director general of Africa Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention.

When making the announcement, the WHO's director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying.

"On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it's clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives."

The WHO's committee chair, Professor Dimie Ogoina, added: "The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe.

"Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself."

The WHO says it is focusing on making the vaccines more widely available, particularly for lower-income countries.

A day after the global emergency was declared, Swedish officials confirmed the country had recorded its first case of the new mpox variant .

Are there cases in the UK - and have there been before?

There are currently no cases of the virus in the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said, and its deputy director Dr Meera Chand claims the risk "is currently considered low".

"However, planning is under way to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK," she added.

"This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission."

Government officials have now met to "ensure sufficient plans are in place to deal with any potential cases," Downing Street said.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert, told Sky News it was "very likely" someone in the UK already has the new variant of the viral disease.

However, he said it probably wouldn't be confirmed for a few weeks until people with symptoms visit a doctor and their samples are tested.

There have been cases in the UK before, with most seen in 2022 when there was a global outbreak of a milder strain which spread to more than 100 countries, prompting the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern on 23 July 2022.

A total of 2,137 cases had been confirmed in the UK at that stage, but by 31 December 2022 that number had soared to 3,732 cases - 3,553 were in England, 34 in Northern Ireland, 97 in Scotland and 48 in Wales.

Before the spring of 2022, UK cases were usually associated with travel to or from countries where mpox is endemic, particularly in western or central Africa.

But in May that year, there was a large outbreak in the UK, mostly in men who are gay, bisexual, or have sex with other men.

A vaccination programme was launched in the UK in the summer of 2022 and closed the following July.

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There have been no reported deaths due to mpox in the UK.

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W.H.O. Declares Global Emergency Over New Mpox Outbreak

The epidemic is concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus has now appeared in a dozen other African countries.

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By Apoorva Mandavilli

The rapid spread of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, in African countries constitutes a global health emergency, the World Health Organization declared on Wednesday.

This is the second time in three years that the W.H.O. has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency. It previously did so in July 2022. That outbreak went on to affect nearly 100,000 people , primarily gay and bisexual men, in 116 countries, and killed about 200 people.

The threat this time is deadlier. Since the beginning of this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has reported 15,600 mpox cases and 537 deaths. Those most at risk include women and children under 15.

“The detection and rapid spread of a new clade of mpox in eastern D.R.C., its detection in neighboring countries that had not previously reported mpox, and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O.’s director general.

The outbreak has spread through 13 countries in Africa, including a few that had never reported mpox cases before. On Tuesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared a “public health emergency of continental security,” the first time the organization has taken that step since the African Union granted it the power to do so last year.

“It’s in the interests of the countries, of the continent and of the world to get our arms around this and stop transmission as soon as we can,” said Dr. Nicole Lurie, the executive director for preparedness and response at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a nonprofit that finances vaccine development.

Facing the threat of global spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged clinicians and the public in the United States to be alert for the virus.

The W.H.O.’s designation of a “public health emergency of international concern” is intended to prompt member countries to begin preparing for the virus’s appearance and to share vaccines, treatments and other key resources with poorer nations.

“We need concerted international action to stem this recent, novel outbreak,” said Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist at Yale University who served on the W.H.O.’s mpox committee in 2022.

The outbreak that year stayed mostly within tight sexual networks, among gay and bisexual men. A combination of behavioral changes and vaccination tamped down the spread.

In the United States, for example, the toll dropped to about 1,700 cases last year from more than 30,000 in 2022.

The version of mpox that has been circulating in Congo has always been more virulent, and currently has a death rate of about 3 percent, compared with 0.2 percent in the 2022 outbreak. The infection can produce fever, respiratory symptoms, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes, as well as a rash on the hands, feet, chest, mouth or genitals.

Until recently, it spread mainly through consumption of contaminated meat or close contact with infected animals and people. Most of the deaths have been in children, who in this region of Africa are already beset by malnutrition and infectious diseases like cholera, measles and polio.

Should the outbreak spread globally, children in developed countries are likely to be less vulnerable to severe illness, experts have said.

Last year, for the first time, scientists discovered sexual transmission of this version of mpox, with cases split about equally among young men and women. According to genetic analyses , sometime around September, the virus gained mutations that enabled it to spread more readily among people. It has done so partly through heterosexual prostitution .

This viral type has not surfaced outside Africa. Over all, there have been more than 17,500 presumed and confirmed mpox cases in 13 countries, according to Africa C.D.C . Most of the cases and deaths have occurred in Congo.

Given the rapid spread, the declaration of a global health emergency was justified, said Anne Rimoin, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who served on the 2022 mpox panel.

“I think we learned a great deal about the speed with which this virus can spread,” she said.

Amid rising numbers, Congo has approved two mpox vaccines , a Japanese product called LC16 and Jynneos, the vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic that was used in 2022 in the United States and Europe. But Congo has yet to institute an immunization plan.

On Aug. 9, the W.H.O. invited vaccine manufacturers to apply for an emergency use listing , a prerequisite for international groups such as Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, to purchase and distribute the shots in low-income nations.

Bavarian Nordic has donated 15,000 doses of Jynneos to be distributed in African countries. But that is a tiny fraction of the 10 million doses needed to control the outbreak, according to Africa C.D.C.

“The challenge is that these vaccines are not sufficient,” even if countries try to protect only the people at highest risk, said Dr. Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian scientist and chair of the W.H.O.’s mpox emergency committee.

LC16 was used in Japanese children in the 1970s. Clinical trials funded by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations are now evaluating whether Jynneos can protect children and people who have already been exposed to the virus , Dr. Lurie said.

The organization is also supporting the development of a new mRNA vaccine made by BioNTech that would protect against mpox and related viruses, such as smallpox.

“This outbreak has been smoldering for quite a long time, and we continually have missed opportunities to shut it down,” Dr. Lurie said. “I’m really glad that everybody is now paying attention and focusing their efforts on this.”

Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter focused on science and global health. She was a part of the team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for coverage of the pandemic. More about Apoorva Mandavilli