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New Delhi, September 1, 2024 — As the World Health Organization (WHO) intensifies its call for global vigilance against the Monkeypox (Mpox) virus, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a critical alert, emphasizing the urgent need to prioritize the needs of children in the ongoing fight against the outbreak.
The concern arises as a new variant of the Mpox virus, identified as clade Ib, shows potential for wider transmission across all age groups, including young children. This variant has already begun to affect thousands of children across Africa, raising alarm among global health bodies.
UNICEF highlights that children, particularly those who are malnourished or suffering from other health conditions, are at heightened risk of severe complications from Mpox. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected lesions, bodily fluids, contaminated materials, respiratory droplets, or contact with infected animals. Additionally, pregnant women can transmit the virus to their unborn children, further complicating the public health scenario.
The symptoms of Mpox are similar to those of smallpox but generally less severe. They include skin rashes, fever, sore throat, headaches, body aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children under the age of 15 represent more than half of the reported cases, underscoring the virus’s disproportionate impact on younger populations.
Across the most affected regions, widespread malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions, the prevalence of other infectious diseases, and limited access to healthcare exacerbate the vulnerability of children to Mpox. UNICEF warns that this combination of factors makes the spread of the virus particularly dangerous for young lives.
In response to the growing threat, UNICEF is collaborating with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), WHO, and international partners such as USAID and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to support national governments in their efforts to combat the outbreak.
“Our response is comprehensive, focusing on children, pregnant women, and underserved communities. We are prioritizing the interruption of disease transmission while also addressing the secondary impacts on children and communities, such as child protection and school closures,” UNICEF stated.
The WHO, alongside its partners, is also working to accelerate the access to and delivery of Mpox vaccines to the most vulnerable populations, aiming to curb the spread of the virus before it reaches a broader scale.
As the global community rallies to contain this outbreak, the prioritization of children’s needs remains a critical component of the strategy, with UNICEF at the forefront of ensuring that the youngest and most vulnerable are not overlooked in the response.
