Nearly two months after Guinea-Bissau declared an mpox epidemic, health authorities report that children make up half of all cases, raising concerns about the virus spreading undetected across fragile health systems in West Africa.
More than half of the mpox cases recorded in Guinea-Bissau are among children, with 16 of the patients under the age of four, according to local health authorities. The west African country declared a national outbreak on July 4, and has since reported seven confirmed cases and 46 suspected cases. No deaths have been reported to date.
UNICEF has warned that the country's fragile health surveillance system means the virus is likely spreading undetected, leaving more children at risk. Mpox is an infectious viral disease transmitted through close contact. Since January 2024, more than 2,000 mpox-related deaths have been recorded across east, central and west Africa, amid tens of thousands of cases.
Health workers say the virus strains circulating in Guinea-Bissau match those found in neighbouring countries, indicating ongoing cross-border transmission. Authorities have launched community awareness campaigns and are accelerating vaccination efforts, particularly as schools prepare to reopen in September. The outbreak comes as the country faces broader challenges including limited infrastructure and political instability following the military's suspension of last November's presidential election.
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