A new victim of Mpox in Madagascar. A one-month-old male infant passed away on July 28 at the Treatment and Isolation Center (CTI) in Toamasina, in the Atsinanana region. According to specialists, newborns and children under 5 are highly susceptible to severe forms of this disease. Precautions must be taken to protect them, starting with the observance of barrier measures.
According to information from an official at the Ministry of Public Health, the baby was likely infected by his mother, who already showed signs suggestive of Mpox. The mother reportedly resorted to self-medication. The first skin rashes appeared on the infant at 14 days old, but the disease was diagnosed late. Before his admission to the CTI, the child was reportedly transported to several places while his health was already severely deteriorated. An investigation is ongoing to determine if the mother is among the vulnerable individuals.
This infant in Toamasina is the third newborn to succumb to Mpox since the start of the epidemic in mid-December. An 11-day-old baby in the Boeny region and another 22-day-old in Antananarivo were also among the victims, not to mention the 3-year-old girl from Toamasina, the first recorded death. According to our source, newborns and young children remain particularly exposed to severe forms of the disease. For these patients, care is often more complex due to their young age.
“Children under 5, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses are among the most vulnerable groups. When they are infected, the risk of complications is higher and can lead to death,” warns Professor Mamy Randria, incident manager at the National Public Health Emergency Operations Center (Cousp). He recommends that these individuals consult a health facility immediately upon the appearance of suspicious signs.
The specialist also insists on the precautions to be taken to protect newborns. According to him, it is advisable to limit the number of people handling infants and to restrict visits after birth. “People who take care of a baby must wash their hands thoroughly. Anyone who is sick or showing symptoms suggestive of any infection must not touch the baby under any circumstances,” he concluded.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-31 10:23:39 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/epidemie-un-nourrisson-dun-mois-succombe-a-la-mpox-a-toamasina/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=epidemie-un-nourrisson-dun-mois-succombe-a-la-mpox-a-toamasina