Ethiopia has confirmed its first cases of mpox in a 21-day-old infant and the child’s mother.
The infections were detected in Moyale, a border town near Kenya and Somalia.
Health authorities suspect cross-border travel as the source of the virus.
The infant’s father had recently traveled across the border.
Moyale is a significant trade and transportation hub bordering Kenya and near Somalia, both with past mpox cases.
Several relatives who had contact with the family are now quarantined as a precautionary measure.
A joint statement indicated that the infection’s source is under investigation, with initial findings pointing to cross-border transmission.
Public health teams have been deployed to trace contacts and prevent further spread, especially in border regions.
Although these are Ethiopia’s first confirmed mpox cases, the country has been on alert since the 2022 global health emergency declaration by the WHO.