Guinea-Bissau has confirmed over the week-end its first case of mpox, prompting health authorities to activate the country’s national response measures and intensify disease surveillance.
Public Health Minister Quinhin Nantote announced over the weekend that the patient is a 27-year-old woman who sought medical treatment on 24 June. Laboratory tests conducted by the National Institute of Public Health detected the virus, with the diagnosis later confirmed by the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal.
Following the confirmation, authorities launched epidemiological investigations to trace the patient’s contacts, strengthened surveillance nationwide and at border entry points, and urged the public to practise preventive measures such as frequent handwashing and avoiding close contact with people displaying symptoms, including fever and skin rashes.
Mpox is a viral disease spread through body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials, with common symptoms including fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and skin lesions.