Half of Suspected Mpox Cases in Guinea-Bissau Are Children

Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.

Children make up half of the 46 suspected mpox cases identified in Guinea-Bissau, including 16 cases involving children younger than four years old. This is the first time mpox has been reported in the West African nation, described by UNICEF as a "major public health event".

The outbreak was officially declared on 4 July. As of the latest updates, the government has confirmed seven adult cases, with no fatalities reported.

Mpox is an infectious disease in the same virus family as smallpox, typically causing a distinct rash, fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and fatigue. While symptoms usually resolve without treatment and death is rare, newborns and children are more vulnerable to severe cases. During the 2022 international outbreak, many fatalities were among children or those with underlying health conditions.

The disease primarily spreads through skin-to-skin contact with contagious lesions and by contact with objects such as clothing and eating utensils used by infected individuals. This mode of transmission puts anyone in close physical contact at risk, in contrast to the 2022 outbreak, which mainly affected people with new or multiple sexual partners.

With schools set to reopen in September, concerns are rising about increased transmission among children due to their vulnerability. UNICEF warns of "critical gaps" in surveillance, particularly in contact identification, testing, and tracing transmission pathways. The agency is working with local authorities to address these gaps and to conduct information campaigns targeted at children and families, needing more than $150,000 in flexible emergency funding.

UNICEF's Deputy Representative Sandra Martins emphasized the importance of early detection, care, and prevention to manage mpox and reduce its spread. Families are urged to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms like rash, fever, or swollen lymph nodes appear, and to follow advice on handwashing, avoiding contact with suspected cases, and reducing stigma.