states:
Multiple nations have begun screening incoming passengers for the disease as the East African nation of Burundi faces a surge in Monkeypox (mpox) infections, particularly affecting children and adolescents, according to UNICEF.
Children and vulnerable communities in Eastern and Southern Africa are bearing the brunt of an “expanding outbreak” of mpox, with more than 200 cases reported across Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa, as per a press release from UNICEF on Aug. 22.
The new variant of the mpox virus (clade 1b) has been identified in all affected countries except South Africa, raising concerns about its potential for wider transmission, especially among young children.
Burundi has reported the highest number of infections in the region, with 170 confirmed cases as of August 20, 2024, with a significant percentage being female.
Children and adolescents below the age of 20 account for almost 60 percent of the cases in Burundi, with those under five years old making up 21 percent of the infections.
UNICEF highlighted the increased risks for children in Burundi due to the simultaneous outbreak of measles in the region.
The country faces challenges in combating the disease, including low community awareness, a shortage of diagnostic test kits and medications, and high operational costs.
Etleva Kadilli, the UNICEF regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, emphasized the urgent need to prioritize the needs of children in response to the outbreak.
Mpox has two genetic clades—1 and 2—with clade 1 variants causing more severe cases and spreading more easily, posing significant health risks.
The global mpox outbreak that started in 2022 was caused by the clade 2 variant, but cases of clade 1 mpox have now been detected outside of Africa.
Several countries have implemented screening measures for mpox, with Singapore and China taking precautionary steps to prevent the spread of the disease.
WHO has declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, calling for a coordinated international response to stop the outbreaks and save lives.
The U.S. CDC has enhanced its preparedness for potential clade 1 mpox infections, citing lower morbidity and mortality compared to the 2022 outbreak of the clade 2 strain.
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