The viral disease mpox has reached Guinea-Bissau (a small West African nation) for the first time, raising fresh concerns about the ongoing global spread of the illness formerly known as monkeypox. Of 46 suspected cases recorded in the country, 23 involve children under the age of 15 — most of them under four — a pattern that alarms health officials given that young children face significantly higher risks of severe illness and death from the disease. Experts warn that while vaccines remain a critical tool, equitable access is lacking in low-income countries where transmission conditions are worst, and that early detection, contact tracing, and strong public health systems are equally essential to containing new outbreaks.