Children account for half of mpox cases in Guinea-Bissau amid ongoing outbreak
Half of the mpox infections reported in Guinea-Bissau have been among children, with 16 under four years old, since the epidemic was declared in early July.
A national mpox outbreak was declared in Guinea-Bissau on 4 July, following the first laboratory-confirmed case in a 27-year-old woman. Since then, health officials have recorded seven confirmed infections and 46 suspected ones, with children comprising half of the total and 16 of those under four years of age. UNICEF highlighted the country's fragile health-surveillance system, suggesting the virus may be circulating unnoticed and endangering additional children.
The majority of confirmed cases are concentrated in the Bissau autonomous sector, while one case has been identified in the nearby Biombo area, and no fatalities have been reported. Former health minister Magda Robalo called for stronger surveillance and reinforced frontline capacity, noting that intermittent new cases indicate ongoing transmission. Community health workers have launched door-to-door awareness campaigns using megaphones and translated leaflets, supported by the health ministry and international partners.
Why it matters
The high proportion of child infections signals vulnerable health systems and the need for stronger disease surveillance.
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