Children make up half of suspected mpox cases in Guinea-Bissau as epidemic spreads
Source: Guardian World ↗
More than half of the mpox cases reported in Guinea‑Bissau have been among children, with 16 of the 46 suspected patients under four years old, according to local authorities. The outbreak was declared on 4 July, a week after a 27‑year‑old woman was confirmed as the country’s first mpox case. Since then, seven cases have been laboratory‑confirmed and the remaining 46 are classified as suspected, all but one of the confirmed infections occurring in the Bissau autonomous sector, the capital region, while a single case was identified in the nearby Biombo area. No deaths have been recorded to date.
UNICEF warned that the nation’s fragile health‑surveillance systems likely allow the virus to spread undetected, putting additional children at risk. The agency’s deputy representative, Sandra Martins, emphasized that this is the first time mpox has been reported in Guinea‑Bissau, making even a modest outbreak a major public‑health event. Health officials note that the viral clade matches strains circulating in neighboring countries, sustaining a high risk of cross‑border transmission. Dr Magda Robalo, former health minister and co‑founder of the Institute for Global Health and Development, called for intensified surveillance and reinforced frontline capacity, pointing out that intermittent new cases over several weeks indicate ongoing transmission.
The outbreak unfolds against a backdrop of infrastructure challenges, including recent electricity shortages in Bissau due to fuel scarcity, and political instability following the military‑suspended presidential election of November. In response, community health workers launched a door‑to‑door awareness campaign using megaphones and translated leaflets, supported by the health ministry and international partners, to build trust and inform the public ahead of the September reopening of primary schools. Earlier this year, Guinea‑Bissau halted a US‑funded hepatitis B vaccine trial for newborns over ethical concerns, a move that underscored sensitivities around emergency health interventions and may influence how external agencies engage with the current mpox response.
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