More than half of the mpox cases reported in Guinea-Bissau have been among children, local authorities have stated. This comes almost two months after the country announced a national epidemic.
The outbreak was declared on 4 July 2026, following the first confirmed case in a 27-year-old woman. Since then, Guinea-Bissau has recorded seven confirmed cases and 46 suspected cases. Half of these patients are children, with 16 under the age of four.
Unicef warned on Thursday that the virus is likely spreading undetected due to the country's fragile health surveillance systems, potentially putting more children at risk. Sandra Martins, Unicef's deputy representative for Guinea-Bissau, noted that this is the first time mpox cases have been reported in the country, making even a small outbreak a significant public health event.
Dr. Magda Robalo, a former health minister, highlighted that new cases appearing intermittently over several weeks indicate ongoing transmission. She stressed the need to prioritise increased surveillance and reinforce frontline capacity to address gaps in the health system.
The outbreak occurs amid infrastructure challenges and the aftermath of the military's suspension of last November's presidential election. Community health workers have initiated a door-to-door public awareness campaign, supported by the health ministry and international agencies, ahead of primary schools reopening in September.