Senegal has confirmed its first monkeypox (mpox) case of the year in a foreign national who arrived on 19 August 2025.
The patient’s stable condition is being closely monitored in isolation at Fann Hospital, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health on 23 August 2025.
This development follows a period of heightened surveillance for the virus. Health authorities have initiated contact tracing to contain any potential transmission.
FIRST CASE OF THE YEAR
On 25 August 2025, the Ministry of Health announced that no new cases had been detected since the initial report.
A spokesperson confirmed that 25 individuals who had contact with the patient are under surveillance.
The government is ensuring all necessary public health measures are in place to prevent further spread. It is currently unclear what virus variant has been identified in the patient.
GLOBAL CONTEXT AND RESPONSE
This case comes as sporadic mpox infections continue across Africa, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintaining a public health alert.
In August 2024, the WHO again declared mpox a global public health emergency due to an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The global community continues to monitor the situation, with a focus on quick identification and isolation.
SYMPTOMS AND TRANSMISSION
Mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person or animal. The illness is typically mild but can be fatal in rare cases.
Symptoms often include flu-like signs and pus-filled lesions on the body.
Public health guidance emphasises the importance of hygiene and avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals.
WHICH HEALTH POLICIES CAN PREVENT MPOX FROM ESCALATING?
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