Mpox Outbreak Confirmed in Gambia

The Gambia has reported its first mpox outbreak after a single case of the virus was discovered through routine health checks.

Although only one person has tested positive so far, officials say it’s enough to declare an outbreak since mpox was not already spreading in the country.

The Ministry of Health shared that the case was found last Friday and has sparked a full response.

 Health teams are now actively searching for more cases, tracking those who may have had contact with the infected person, and educating communities to stop the virus from spreading further.

Mpox is a virus that comes from the same family as smallpox. It can spread from animals to humans, but it also spreads between people through close skin-to-skin contact. Symptoms include fever, body aches, and painful, boil-like rashes on the skin. In some cases, it can lead to death.

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There are two main types of the virus: clade 1 and clade 2. Health officials in The Gambia are now running tests to find out which type of mpox is involved in this outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently warned that mpox is still considered a global health emergency, especially with rising case numbers in parts of West Africa.

Neighboring countries have also been hit hard. From January to late May this year, Sierra Leone reported over 3,300 cases and 16 deaths.

In early June, Liberia recorded about 71 active cases. DR Congo, Uganda, and Burundi have also seen thousands of cases this year, according to WHO reports.

The Gambia’s quick response aims to keep the situation under control and prevent the virus from spreading further.

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