Guinea-Bissau reports first mpox outbreak, half of suspected cases are children
Mpox, which is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox, can be transmitted to humans by animals.
Guinea-Bissau has reported its first outbreak of mpox, raising concerns as half of the suspected cases involve children, according to UNICEF. Sandra Martins, UNICEF's deputy representative in the country, highlighted that Guinea-Bissau's surveillance system is extremely fragile, increasing the risk of undetected cases, especially among vulnerable children.
As of August 17, seven confirmed mpox cases have been reported, all among adults, with no fatalities. However, out of 46 suspected cases, 23 are children under the age of 15. UNICEF warns that the reopening of schools next month could potentially facilitate the spread of the disease. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously declared Africa free of a public health emergency related to mpox, although the virus remains endemic in several regions.
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