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Guinea-Bissau is confronting its first mpox outbreak, raising urgent concerns as children account for half of all suspected cases, UNICEF reported on Thursday.
The UN children’s agency warned that the West African nation’s fragile healthcare and surveillance infrastructure remains ill-prepared to contain the virus.
The disease, which spreads through close physical contact or from animals to humans, causes fever, muscle aches, and severe skin lesions, and can prove fatal.
Sandra Martins, UNICEF deputy representative in Guinea-Bissau, highlighted that even a minor outbreak presents a major public health crisis for the country, emphasising the heightened danger of undetected infections among vulnerable children.
Authorities confirmed seven mpox cases among adults as of August 17, with no reported fatalities so far.
However, 23 of the 46 total suspected cases involve children under age 15, fuelling fears that upcoming school reopenings could accelerate transmission.
