The Mpox outbreak continues to claim lives in Madagascar. A one-month-old baby boy died on 28 July 2026 at the Treatment and Isolation Center (CTI) in Toamasina, Atsinanana Region. The tragic case highlights the severe impact of the disease on newborns and young children, who remain among the groups most vulnerable to serious complications.
According to officials from the Ministry of Public Health, the infant is believed to have contracted the virus from his mother, who had already developed symptoms consistent with Mpox. She reportedly self-medicated before seeking medical care, delaying the diagnosis. The baby’s first skin lesions appeared when he was just 14 days old, but the infection was only identified at an advanced stage. Before being admitted to the CTI, he was reportedly taken to several locations despite his worsening condition. Health authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether the mother had any underlying health conditions or other vulnerability factors.
This latest death brings the number of newborns who have died from Mpox in Madagascar to three since the outbreak began in mid-December 2025. Earlier fatalities included an 11-day-old infant in the Boeny Region and a 22-day-old newborn in Antananarivo. A three-year-old girl from Toamasina had also become the country’s first recorded Mpox fatality. Public health officials continue to emphasize that children under the age of five, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems face the highest risk of developing severe forms of the disease.
The Public Health Emergency Operations Center (COUSP) is urging the public to seek medical attention immediately when symptoms such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, or the characteristic skin rash appear. Health professionals also recommend limiting visits to newborns, washing hands thoroughly before handling infants, and avoiding any contact with babies if a person is experiencing symptoms that could indicate Mpox.
The death comes as the virus continues to circulate in several regions across Madagascar, with Toamasina remaining one of the country’s main transmission hotspots. Health authorities are maintaining surveillance, public awareness campaigns, contact tracing, and patient isolation measures to contain the outbreak. They also continue to warn against self-medication and encourage anyone with suspected symptoms to seek prompt medical care to reduce the risk of severe illness and further transmission.
