Unicef Warns Of Mpox Surge Among Children In Eastern And Southern Africa

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Aug (Bernama) -- The United Nations (UN) children’s agency has reported that children and vulnerable communities are at the sharp end of an expanding outbreak of mpox in eastern and southern Africa, with over 200 confirmed cases in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa.

UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli said, a new variant of the mpox virus (clade Ib) has been identified in all affected countries except South Africa, raising concerns due to its potential for wider transmission across age groups, particularly among young children.

“The new strain of Mpox is a serious threat to vulnerable children and families,” she said in a statement Thursday.

“Aside from immediate lifesaving response, risk communication efforts & cross border collaboration, investments in overall Health System Strengthening, continuity of essential services and targeted focus on programmes that support overall child wellbeing must be prioritised,” she said.

According to Kadilli, Burundi has reported the highest number of infections in the region, as of Aug 20, 170 confirmed mpox cases have been detected across 26 of the country’s 49 districts, with 45.3 per cent of the cases being female.

"Children and adolescents below 20 years of age constitute nearly 60 per cent of cases detected, with children under five comprising 21 per cent of cases," she said. 

Kadilli said the risks for children in Burundi are heightened due to the simultaneous occurrence of measles outbreaks, resulting from low routine childhood immunisation and high malnutrition rates.

“Although the response is ongoing, the country continues to face multiple challenges including a shortage of diagnostic test kits and medicines, low community awareness, high operational costs, and risks of disruption to the continuity of essential healthcare services,” she said.

UNICEF is currently appealing for an urgent US$16.5 million to scale up the response and preparedness across the region, she said.

“The funding needs will be revised on a regular basis as the situation evolves rapidly,” she said.

-- BERNAMA