Third of Burundi Mpox Cases in Children Under Five: UN

AFP/APP

Geneva: Children under five are disproportionately affected by the ongoing mpox outbreak in Burundi, accounting for nearly a third of reported cases, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) said on Friday.

Burundi is currently the second hardest-hit country in Africa, after the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Children in Burundi are bearing the brunt of the mpox outbreak, with alarming rates of infection and severe health impacts,” said Paul Ngwakum, UNICEF’s Regional Health Advisor for Eastern and Southern Africa.

Ngwakum highlighted that two-thirds of Burundi’s mpox cases involve individuals aged 19 and under, with children under five representing 30 percent of reported cases.

He emphasized the need for urgent attention to protect the health of young children during the outbreak while speaking to reporters via videolink from Bujumbura.