Gambia declares mpox outbreak after first case detected

The Gambia’s ministry of health officially declared an outbreak of mpox on Tuesday, following the confirmation of a single case detected through its routine surveillance system on Friday.

The announcement comes amidst concerns over recent increases in infections reported in several nearby West African countries, and as the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to classify mpox as an international health emergency.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that “The detection of a single case in a country where mpox is not presently in circulation constitutes an outbreak, requiring immediate response.”

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Mpox, caused by a virus related to smallpox, can spread from infected animals to humans and also through close physical contact between people.

The disease, initially identified in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, manifests with symptoms such as fever, muscular aches, and characteristic large, boil-like skin lesions, and can, in severe cases, be fatal.

In response to the confirmed case, the Gambian Ministry of Health has swiftly initiated a comprehensive public health response.

This includes active case finding, rigorous contact tracing to identify individuals who may have been exposed, and extensive community engagement efforts aimed at raising awareness and preventing further transmission of the disease within the population.