Unlike the 2022 mpox outbreak, which predominantly affected men who have sex with men, the 2024 outbreak is impacting a broader demographic. The virus, primarily spreading through direct contact, has been reported among men, women, and children. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where mpox cases have been reported in all 26 provinces, children younger than 15 years account for 66% of reported cases and more than 82% of deaths.

“Mpox is endemic in our region, and with endemic diseases, exposure is inevitable. Children are particularly vulnerable due to contact, malnutrition, and compromised immunity. The lack of smallpox vaccination, which could have provided some protection, also contributes”, Merawi Aragaw Tegegne, Acting Head of the Division of Emergency Preparedness & Response at Africa CDC, told The Lancet.