The Gambia has declared an outbreak of mpox following the detection of a single confirmed case, the country’s Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.
The case was discovered on Friday through routine surveillance. Though only one infection has been identified so far, the Ministry stated that this constitutes an official outbreak under international health protocols.
Health authorities have launched contact tracing, intensified surveillance, and initiated community engagement efforts to curb potential spread.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease related to smallpox. It spreads through contact with infected animals or close physical contact with infected humans. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and large, boil-like skin lesions. The disease can be fatal in severe cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has continued to classify mpox as an international health emergency, particularly amid recent spikes in West African nations.
Sequencing is underway to determine whether the case in The Gambia involves clade 1 or clade 2 of the virus.
Neighbouring countries are also grappling with rising mpox infections. Sierra Leone has recorded over 3,350 cases and 16 deaths as of late May. Liberia reported 71 active cases in June, while Guinea has logged more than 200 cases since last September. The disease has also surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Burundi.
