Children make up half of mpox cases in Guinea-Bissau as epidemic spreads
Guinea-Bissau is facing an mpox outbreak where children account for half of the reported cases. UNICEF has warned that fragile health surveillance may mean the virus is spreading undetected.
Why it matters
The high infection rate among children in a region with limited healthcare infrastructure poses a significant public health risk.
A child is vaccinated at a health centre in Quebo, Guinea-Bissau. There is a sense of urgency in the heath sector, with schools due to reopen in September. Photograph: Vincent Tremeau/Unicef A child is vaccinated at a health centre in Quebo, Guinea-Bissau. There is a sense of urgency in the heath sector, with schools due to reopen in September. Photograph: Vincent Tremeau/Unicef Global development Children make up half of mpox cases in Guinea-Bissau as epidemic spreads West African country reports 46 suspected cases in outbreak declared in July, amid fears virus may be spreading undetected
About this content Eromo Egbejule in Cotonou Mon 24 Aug 2026 06.11 EDT Last modified on Mon 24 Aug 2026 06.14 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google More than half of the mpox cases reported in Guinea-Bissau have been among children, local authorities have said, almost two months since the country announced an epidemic.
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