The doctor spoke of the heartbreak of treating young children infected with mpox amid a surge in cases as the World Health Organisation declared it a global health emergency
A doctor on the frontline of the mpox outbreak has issued a chilling warning about the world’s preparation to fight the horror disease.
Burundi in East Africa is one of many countries in the region facing a surge in cases of the infectious bug, which was previously known as monkeypox. Scientists have grown increasingly concerned over a new variant, named Clade 1b, which is not only more contagious than previous stains but also deadlier.
Mpox – which causes a blistering rash and fever – was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14 by the World Health Organisation as it begins to spread across the world. Dr Odette Nsavyimana, who works at King Khaled University Hospital in Bujumbura, said he feared there would be “no capacity” to keep treating the sick if cases continue to rise.
The doctor told the BBC that he and his colleagues had taken to setting up treatment tents outside, with red tape warning people to stay away for risk of contracting mpox. All visitors to the tents must wear protective equipment and practice social distancing from those infected.
Dr Nsavyimana described the heartbreak of having to treat infected children. He said: “It is tough, especially when the babies come. They cannot stay alone, so I have to keep their mothers here as well. Even if they have no symptoms… It is such a tough situation. I am worried about the numbers. If they keep increasing, there is no capacity for us to handle that.”
It comes as the United Nation’s children’s charity warned that children and vulnerable communities have been worst hit by the mpox outbreak in Eastern and Southern Africa. UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli, said: “The new strain of Mpox is a serious threat to vulnerable children and families. Aside from immediate lifesaving response, risk communication efforts & cross border collaboration, investments in overall Health System Strengthening, continuity of essential services and targeted focus on programmes that support overall child wellbeing must be prioritised.
“In the fight against the Mpox outbreak, prioritising the needs of children is not just necessary—it’s urgent. Their heightened vulnerability requires that we dedicate our full attention and resources to ensure their protection and well-being in this critical response phase.”
There are no cases of clade 1 mpox confirmed in the UK. Anyone with symptoms has been urged to contact their GP. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recorded up 269 cases of Mpox in England alone during 2023 and 2024.